Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.

Michael Gepp

Heiko Zimmermann

Julia Neubauer

Benjamin Fischer

The invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional, preferably porous, hydrogel structures by means of layer build-up technique, wherein the method comprises the following steps. Providing (S) of a liquid hydrogel solution, preferably a liquid alginate solution, and a, preferably transportable, sample carrier. Layerwise applying (S) the liquid hydrogel solution onto the sample carrier in a temperature environment, the temperature of which is below the freezing point of the hydrogel solution, to produce a frozen 3D layered hydrogel structure. In order to increase advantageously the porosity of the 3D layered hydrogel structure, i.e. the proportion of small voids, cavities and/or depressions in the 3D layered hydrogel structure, the method according to the invention further comprises the step of drying (S) of the frozen 3D layered hydrogel structure, e.g. by means of freeze-drying, to produce a porous 3D hydrogel structure. The invention relates further also to a device for the layerwise building-up of three-dimensional hydrogel structures.

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Sulzbach, Germany

Michael Gepp