Figure 5.

(a) Schematic illustration of niche-like microsystem. The central culture chamber was seeded with hNSCs with hydrogel solutions and the two sides of channels were filled with culture medium. Therefore, the needed molecules were provided to the hNSCs through the diffusion from the side channels. (b) Schematic representation of microfluidic system for EB differentiation. Two different solutions (one with growth factor) were injected to the Y-channel. The advection became more dominant than diffusion preventing growth of concentration gradient profile; therefore, the differentiation was developed only one side of the EB. Image analysis confirmed the influence of 10 μM RA (retinoic acid).