Fig.1.

Schematic of experimental design. (A) Homogeneous hiPSC-NPC encapsulation within Me-HA hydrogels: single dispersive hiPSC-NPCs and hydrogel precursors were loaded into silicone molds and subsequently exposed to 365 nm UV light for 30 s or 60 s. The cell-hydrogel constructs were maintained in spontaneous differentiation medium (SDM) for 28 days. (B) hiPSC-NPC spheroids encapsulation within hydrogels: hiPSC-NPC cell spheroids were first fabricated by the cell self-assembly method after 2 days of culture and then encapsulated within the hydrogels. The spheroid laden constructs were conditioned in SDM for 28 days; (C) DS-NPC spheroids laden within hydrogels: DS-NPC spheroids were first manufactured, and then were incorporated into hydrogels. The hydrogel-encapsulated DS-NPC spheroids were conditioned in neural differentiation medium (NDM) for 28 days. Scale bars = 200 μm.