FIG. 7.

EDC conjugation of FN on self-assembled CI basal lamina analogs enhances epidermal thickness. Histological images of surfaces of self-assembled CI basal lamina analogs treated with Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline (dPBS) (controls) (A), passive adsorption of FN (B), or EDC conjugation of FN (C), and keratinocytes cultured on the membranes at the A/L interface for 3 days. Scale bars represent 50 μm. Conjugation of FN to the surfaces of the self-assembled CI basal lamina analogs using EDC caused an increase in epidermal thickness in comparison to control surfaces and surfaces treated by passively adsorbing FN to the scaffolds (D). All surfaces were statistically different from each other (*p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc analysis). Bars indicate mean values, and error bars indicate standard error; sample numbers are n = 3 for control and passive adsorption, and n = 5 for EDC conjugation. Color images available online at www.liebertonline.com/ten.