Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39568251›Full record

ArticleSmall (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)2025

Hierarchically Structured and Tunable Hydrogel Patches: Design, Characterization, and Application.

Lea Steinbeck, Richard Paul, Julia Litke, Isabel Karkoszka, G Philip Wiese, John Linkhorst, Laura De Laporte, Matthias Wessling

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Lea SteinbeckChemical Process Engineering AVT.CVT, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6842-0368
Richard PaulChemical Process Engineering AVT.CVT, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4465-464X
Julia LitkeChemical Process Engineering AVT.CVT, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
Isabel KarkoszkaChemical Process Engineering AVT.CVT, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6625-4226
G Philip WieseChemical Process Engineering AVT.CVT, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1653-976X
John LinkhorstChemical Process Engineering AVT.CVT, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8556-9217
Laura De LaporteDWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e. V., Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9438-0977
Matthias WesslingChemical Process Engineering AVT.CVT, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7874-5315

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Alexander-von-Humboldt FoundationDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Award 2019 (WE 4678/12-1)Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SFB 985 B5Werner Siemens-Stiftung TriggerINK
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Recent studies show the importance of hydrogel geometry for various applications, such as encoding, micromachines, or tissue engineering. However, fabricating hydrogel structures with micrometer-sized features, advanced geometry, and precise control of porosity remains challenging. This work presents hierarchically structured hydrogels, so-called hydrogel patches, with internally deviating regions on a micron-scale. These regions are defined in a one-step, high-throughput fabrication process via stop-flow lithography. Between the specified projection pattern during fabrication, an interconnecting lower crosslinked and more porous hydrogel network forms, resulting in at least two degrees of crosslinking within the patches. A detailed investigation of patch formation is performed for two material systems and pattern variations, revealing basic principles for reliable patch formation. In addition to the two defined crosslinked regions, further regions are implemented in the patches by adapting the pattern accordingly. The variations in pattern geometry impact the mechanical characteristics of the hydrogel patches, which display pattern-dependent compression behavior due to predefined compression points. Cell culture on patches, as one possible application, reveals that the patch pattern determines the cell area of L929 mouse fibroblasts. These results introduce hierarchically structured hydrogel patches as a promising and versatile platform system with high customizability.

Indexed as

biomaterialhierarchical cellular materialhydrogelporosityprojection lithography

Identifiers

PMID39568251
PMCPMC11753498

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.