Figure 1.
Schematic diagram of the gradient generation and stabilization by photopolymerization. A) the gradient generation device consists of a PDMS mold reversibly sealed to a TMS-PMA treated glass slide, B) the channel was pre-filled with low concentration of PEG-DA precursors from the outlet and a high concentration of PEG-DA precursors containing chemicals of interest was introduced from the inlet, C) the solution of interest flowed spontaneously into the channel by passive-pumping-induced forward flow, D) the gradient was generated by the combined effect of evaporation-induced backward flow and molecular diffusion, E) the gradient was stabilized by photopolymerization, F) the hydrogel gradient was obtained after demolding.