In situ self-folding assembly of a multi-walled hydrogel tube for uniaxial sustained molecular release.

This study presents a multi-walled poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogel tube formed by the simple self-folding of a bi-layered hydrogel patch. The gel tube has the capability to release encapsulated molecules through designated pathways in a sustained manner. Therefore, the gel tube encapsulating the vascular endothelial growth factor significantly increases the vascular densities and vessel diameters at an implantation site.