Dielectrophoretically oriented porous microcapsules to modulate mechanical property of hydrogel and spatial drug delivery for facilitating neural stem cell differentiation

We propose an emerging hydrogel scaffold with heterogeneous and hierarchical structure by incorporating and orienting growth factor-encapsulated microcapsules via particle dielectrophoresis manipulation within hydrogel for constructing biomimetic scaffold to guide neural stem cells (NSCs) adhesion and sprouting. This emerging hydrogel scaffold is combining several properties that mimic real tissue microenvironment: (1) heterogeneous structure of hydrogel scaffold, including soft and photo-curable hydrogel and porous microcapsules encapsulating with neurotrophic factor; (2) hierarchical orientation of microcapsules within hydrogel; (3) spatially mechanical property by controlling the microcapsules orientation within hydrogel; (4) bioactive growth factor release from microcapsules; (5) improved conductivity by modifying conductive reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on microcapsules. This heterogeneous and hierarchical hydrogel scaffold with the orientation of growth factor-encapsulated microcapsules facilitates spatial neural stem cells differentiation.