Fig. 6.

Verification of the CaCl₂ impact on the channel formation. A) Sugar-glass construct not loaded with CaCl₂. B) Alginate casting (with CaCO₃ nanoparticles), t = 60 seconds. It is visible that the water contained in the alginate rapidly dissolved the sugar construct, leading to the leaking of the alginate at the bottom of the construct. C) Alginate gel after complete dissolution of the remaining sugar construct and complete gelation, t = 18 hours. D) Perfusion of the micro channels. One of the three intended branches is not present, which suggests that the sugar entirely dissolved itself before the complete gelation of the alginate. Scale bar: 10 mm.