Oxygen gradients play essential roles in many in vitro
cell, tissue and organ experimental models. This paper
reports a novel biocompatible biomaterial for on-demand
generation of three-dimensional oxygen gradients in vitro.
By exposing the oxygen-consuming biomaterial consisting
of glucose oxidase and catalase enzymes to the cell culture
media or gel, precisely-controlled oxygen gradients (2.5
mmHg per 100 µm distance) that closely mimic in vivo
hypoxia can be generated. This biomaterial will serve as the
basis for a new generation of experimental models
previously impossible or very difficult to implement by
simplifying and refining the control of in vitro
microenvironments.