Fig. 1: Overview of microbe-laden, extrusion-printed hydrogels for on-demand production.
From: Compartmentalized microbes and co-cultures in hydrogels for on-demand bioproduction and preservation
The hydrogel encapsulation and on-demand production process is divided into three parts. In the Gel Preparation stage, the printed and UV-cured microbial hydrogels are transferred to culture medium for cell outgrowth. While this initial outgrowth can also be used for production, the resulting cell-laden living materials can proceed to either the Gel Storage or On-Demand Production phase depending on user needs. In the Gel Storage stage, the microbial gels are treated with different types of preservation methods for storage and future use. The preserved gels are subsequently rehydrated and incubated in fresh medium to perform on-demand production, with iterative re-uses as desired.
