Fig. 1.

Genipin is a natural crosslinker (A). Fibrin crosslinked with genipin (FibGen) at various doses (2.5 mg/mL, 5.0 mg/mL, and 10 mg/mL) showed significantly increased compressive and shear properties as compared to fibrin alone (B) (*:p < 0.0001 compared to Fib; n = 10 per group). In addition, genipin crosslinking significantly delayed in vitro degradation (C). Fibrin alone was fully degraded in vitro by 7 days in PBS, whereas FibGen maintained its volume by 21 days (D). However, genipin over 5 mg/mL resulted in too dense matrix leading to low cell viability (E) (PR: Picrosirius Red; AB: Alcian Blue). Quantitatively, live/dead assays showed significantly lower cell viabilities in FibGen 5.0 and FibGen 10 (*:p < 0.0001; n = 10 per group).