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@PHDTHESIS{Mhl:1024868,
      author       = {Möhl, Ninon},
      othercontributors = {De Laporte, Laura and Pich, Andrij},
      title        = {{S}ynthetic anisotropic multiphasic hydrogels for in vitro
                      tissue models},
      school       = {RWTH Aachen University},
      type         = {Dissertation},
      address      = {Aachen},
      publisher    = {RWTH Aachen University},
      reportid     = {RWTH-2026-00387},
      pages        = {1 Online-Ressource : Illustrationen},
      year         = {2025},
      note         = {Veröffentlicht auf dem Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen
                      University 2026; Dissertation, RWTH Aachen University, 2025},
      abstract     = {The regeneration of complex, hierarchically organized
                      native tissue and organs requires approaches that can
                      provide directional guidance for cells. While most
                      injectable hydrogels enable minimally invasive delivery and
                      adaptable properties such as stiffness and degradation cues,
                      they remain mostly isotropic and do not present cellular
                      guidance cues. To overcome this limitation, multiphasic
                      anisotropic hydrogels have been developed, employing
                      external triggers (electrical, light, sound, or magnetic
                      stimuli) or mechanical deposition. One emerging approach
                      involves the use of rod-shaped microgels as tissue
                      engineering building blocks. They offer injectability,
                      porosity, and biochemical functionality to guide cells in
                      three-dimensional (3D) tissue engineering constructs. A
                      fully synthetic 3D kidney disease model designed to overcome
                      current limitations in in vitro systems was developed.
                      Current kidney organoid or microfluidic platforms lack
                      mature tissue development, scalability, and control over
                      spatial organization. Our platform is composed of a
                      compartmentalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogel
                      matrix comprising anisometric PEG microgels that enable
                      structural organization of a triple co-culture of key renal
                      cell types, including epithelial cells (CD10$^+$),
                      endothelial cells (CD31$^+$), and pericytes
                      (PDGFR$\beta^+$). The functionality of our model was
                      validated by inducing fibrosis through TGF$\beta$,
                      highlighting the potential of this system as a scalable and
                      tunable disease model. Furthermore, a robust and scalable
                      method has been established to produce degradable rod
                      microgels in a microfluidic high-throughput manner. Here, a
                      combinative approach of step-emulsification followed by
                      consecutive droplet distribution and confinement on a single
                      microfluidic device was developed. The potential and
                      feasibility of the microfluidic design are highlighted by
                      using two photo-initiated PEG-based polymerization
                      chemistries and comparing them side by side. Furthermore, we
                      report advances using compartmentalized jet polymerization,
                      a microfluidic technique that now enables the continuous
                      production of rod microgels with adjustable stiffness,
                      aspect ratios, and sizes as small as 3 µm. These ultra-thin
                      rod microgels can be rendered magnetic using a novel
                      post-functionalization protocol developed in this thesis.
                      Additionally, this method is used to produce ultra-soft and
                      porous variants with pore sizes in the range of 2–5 µm.
                      Both microgel types were employed in cell experiments,
                      showing promising results when integrated as
                      magneto-responsive microgels inside an Anisogel or as 3D
                      cell-assembled tissue constructs. Finally, this thesis
                      introduces an alternative cross-linking approach to the
                      elastic hydrogel matrix used for the Anisogel system. A
                      PEG-based hydrogel cross-linked through dynamic covalent
                      bonds is synthesized and analyzed. Different polymer
                      architectures were compared and their influence on the
                      hydrogel properties assessed. Furthermore, different
                      biocompatible catalysts are introduced to enhance the
                      reaction kinetics at physiological pH making this hydrogel
                      matrix promising for future cell experiments.},
      cin          = {154610 / 150000},
      ddc          = {540},
      cid          = {$I:(DE-82)154610_20140620$ / $I:(DE-82)150000_20140620$},
      pnm          = {DFG project G:(GEPRIS)445703531 - KFO 5011: Integration
                      neuer Methoden zur Verbesserung von translationaler
                      Nierenforschung (445703531)},
      pid          = {G:(GEPRIS)445703531},
      typ          = {PUB:(DE-HGF)11},
      doi          = {10.18154/RWTH-2026-00387},
      url          = {https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/record/1024868},
}