Fig. 6.
MSCs attach and spread on microstructured regions of ALG-KH-RGD hydrogels. A) 2D cell studies of ALG-K films. (Ai) ALG-K solutions were prepared and reacted with RGD-N3 before (in-sol) or after (in-gel) hydrogel film production. MSCs were seeded on films and cultured for 24 h. Before imaging, films were reacted with a blue-fluorescent tag (Coum-N3). (Aii) MSCs adhesion after 24 h in SPAAC-modified hydrogel films in comparison to non-modified (CTR). B) 3D cell studies of MSC-laden ALG-KH hydrogels. (Bi) Gel-precursor solutions (50/50 ALG-KH/ALG) were reacted with RGD-N3 and MSCs were embedded within hydrogels produced by internal ionic gelation. At the end of culture, hydrogels were reacted with Cy3-N3 tags to stain the hydrophobic domains. (Bii) Metabolic activity (resazurin assay) of MSCs after 7 days of culture, normalized for the total number of cells. Statistical difference in relation to ALG and ALG-KH is represented by ∗∗ (P < 0.01). (Biii) MSCs morphology after 1 and 7 days in ALG-KH and ALG-KH-RGD hydrogels. (Biv) Cell anchoring to ALG-KH filaments at day 7. (Bv) Nuclei and actin staining showing cells alignment on Cy3-stained hydrophobic domain at day 7. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)