Figure 8.

Proof of concept regarding the fabrication of a silk fibroin NGCs incorporating a gradient of GFs. (A) Schematic of a NGC incorporating two different concentrations of GFs in the wall of the conduit. In principle, the gradient of GFs increases from proximal to the distal, therefore attracting the growing axons to reach their distal target. (B) Stereomicrograph of a silk fibroin NGC presenting a gradient along the walls. The orange color represents the chosen Concentration 1, followed by the white color, representing Concentration 2. As it can be assessed, there is no separation in the conduit between the different concentrations, as the conduit is totally uniform. Scale bar: 1,000 μm.