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We demonstrate the fabrication of double-network (DN) hydrogel microstructures inside a hydrogel by multi-photon cross-linking induced by focused femtosecond laser pulses. Two different poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, Mw=700 and 4000) solutions were prepared. A cross-linked PEGDA hydrogel molded into block-shape was immersed in PEGDA hydrogel prepolymer solutions of different molecular weight. Then the DN microstructures were fabricated by spatially-selective photo cross-linking of the polymer chains by femtosecond laser pulse irradiation. The mechanical strength of DN microstructures were enhanced which was confirmed by uniaxial compression test, suggesting the potential of our method for controlling spatial distribution of strength and stiffness.
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