The invention provides a process for producing a gel network, which gel network comprises a plurality of joined gel objects, which process comprises: forming a plurality of gel objects in one or more microfluidic channels; dispensing the gel objects from the one or more microfluidic channels into a region for producing the network; and contacting each gel object with at least one other gel object in said region to join each gel object to at least one other gel object at a region of contact between the gel objects. The invention also provides a network of joined gel objects, comprising a plurality of gel objects, wherein each gel object is joined to an adjacent gel object at a region of contact between the gel objects. Also provided are various possible uses of the gel network.

A curable sheath fluid and a core fluid are simultaneously introduced from a hydrodynamic nozzle to form a co-flowing extrusion, depositing at least a portion of the co-flowing extrusion on a material bed, and causing relative motion between the hydrodynamic nozzle and the material bed to form an extruded shape. The method comprises curing part or all of the external curable fluid. The method may introduce co-flowing extrusion to pressure to remove the internal core fluid from the external curable fluid, and may receive the core fluid into the fluid drain system. The extruded shapes may form a tube or plurality of tubes in a bundle or porous substrate. The ability to form concentric tubes and complex shapes provides a means forming high strength materials controlled release materials, and self-repair materials.

Provided is a method of fabricating a micro/nanowire having a nanometer- to micrometer-sized diameter at predetermined positions on an object. The method comprises: preparing a micro/nanopipette having a tip with an inner diameter (d.sub.pt) which is substantially the same as the diameter of the micro/nanowire to be fabricated; filling the micro/nanopipette with a solution containing a micro/nanowire-forming material; bringing the solution into contact with the object through the tip of the micro/nanopipette; and pulling the micro/nanopipette apart from the object at a pulling speed lower than or equal to a predetermined critical pulling speed (v.sub.c) to fabricate a micro/nanowire having substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the micro/nanopipette tip (d.sub.pt). The critical pulling speed (v.sub.c) is defined by a maximum limit of the pulling speed at which the micro/nanowire to be fabricated has the same diameter as the inner diameter of the micro/nanopipette tip (d.sub.pt).

The invention provides a process for producing a gel network, which gel network comprises a plurality of joined gel objects, which process comprises: forming a plurality of gel objects in one or more microfluidic channels; dispensing the gel objects from the one or more microfluidic channels into a region for producing the network; and contacting each gel object with at least one other gel object in said region to join each gel object to at least one other gel object at a region of contact between the gel objects. The invention also provides a network of joined gel objects, comprising a plurality of gel objects, wherein each gel object is joined to an adjacent gel object at a region of contact between the gel objects. Also provided are various possible uses of the gel network.

The present disclosure is directed to tailoring the structure of freeform nanotube macrostructures through extrusion-based additive manufacturing for fabrication of planar and three-dimensional features and objects. Ink containing nanomaterials can be extruded into a fluid to precipitate into a fiber that can be used to form solid structures. The fluid can include a coagulant that promotes rapid solidification in the precipitation of fibers. The fluid can be disposed into a bath that is in fluid communication with the extruded ink. Systems and devices for executing such processes, are also provided.