Figure 14.

(A) Hydrogel modules are created directly through masks by UV photopolymerization, then hydrogel modules are polymerized and self-assembled in a hydrophobic medium (mineral oil). The second optical crosslinking solidifies the structure, which varies in size and structure according to the geometry of the module. (Reproduced with permission from the Reference [1]). (B) Effect of microgel size on microgel assembly. The average chain lengths of linear, branched or random microgel combinations containing microgel units with different aspect ratios are compared. (Reproduced with permission from the Reference [58]). (C) Schematic diagram of microgels assembling complex building blocks on PFDC or CCL₄ surfaces. One cell type (dark gray) is surrounded by a second cell type (light gray). A complex building-block assembly schematic using lock-and-key shaped microgels to better guide the assembly process for controlled coculture. (Reproduced with permission from the Reference [60]).