The relationships among the diameter of microfibers, width of observation channel and flow rate of continuous phase.

<p>The relationships among the diameter of microfibers, width of observation channel and flow rate of continuous phase.</p

Microfluidic chip.

<p>Expanded view (A) and a photo (B) of the microfluidic chip: 1, inlets of center channels; 2 and 3, inlets of side channels; 4, cross junction; 5, outlet; 6, observation channel; 7, bottom layer disk; 8, screw orifices; 9, the scale bar = 11 cm. (C) is the geometry of the microfluidic channels.</p

Microfiber formation.

<p>The diagram of the microfluidic system and photographs of observation positions. 1, 2 wt % CaCl₂ solution; 2, deionized water; 3, alginate solution; 4, sunflower seed oil; 5, observation channel; 6, microfibers. The formation of microfibers: A, photograph of the microfiber in the observation channel; B, Photograph of the second cross junction; C, photograph of the first cross junction.</p

Microfiber images.

<p>Microscopic images (A∼B, stained with Rhodamine B) and scanning electron microscopy images (C∼E) of microfibers.</p

Cell culture of microfibers.

<p>Proliferation of GBM cells in microfibers. A. GBM cells; B. microfiber without cells; C. GBM in microfibers at the 1st day; D. GBM in microfibers at the 7th day. Arrows indicate GBM cells.</p

Characteristics of the microfibers.

<p>(A) The hysteresis curve of the microfibers containing MIO nanoparticles. (B) Release profiles of diclofenac from MIO-loaded microfibers without magnetic stimulation as the control (▵), with 2 minutes stimulation at the 10th, 30th and 60th minute (▴), with a 10-minute stimulation after the 20th minutes (•) and with a continuous stimulation from the beginning (○).</p