Figure 1.

(a) Schematic representation of microfiber fabrication system. An alginate-based solution is injected through a syringe pump. The coaxial CaCl₂ solution flow draws and solidifies a continuous fiber that is collected in the strainer as a cell-loaded hydrogel patch. (b) Optical microscope image of the alginate microfibers, (c) SEM micrograph of the structures of the freeze-dried fibers, and (d) macroscopic appearance of the microfibers patches in their swollen states, and after freeze-drying.