Hierarchically aligned porous scaffold by ice-segregation-induced self-assembly and thermally triggered electrostatic self-assembly of oppositely charged thermosensitive microgels

We present a new method for the fabrication of a 3-dimensional hierarchical aligned porous scaffold by a combined ice-segregation-induced self-assembly and thermally triggered electrostatic self-assembly method. The oppositely charged thermosensitive microgels were used as the building blocks of the scaffold. The porous structure can be controlled by adjusting both the directional freezing conditions and microgel components. The scaffold thus prepared may survive in a physiological environment (37 degrees C in water) and has great potential in biomedical applications such as tissue engineering.