FIG. 1.

Characterization of noncollagenous protein (NCP)-modified nanofibrous gelatin (NF-Gelatin) scaffolds. (a) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of a three-dimensional NF-Gelatin scaffold, overview; (b) high magnification of the NF-Gelatin scaffold, showing the nanofibrous architecture of its pore walls; (c, d) confocal image of the NF-Gelatin scaffold after coupling with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled NCPs. Image (c) was taken from the outermost edge of the scaffold, and image (d) was taken from the inner surface of the scaffold (∼400 μm from the outside surface). Both (c) and (d) show that the NCPs were distributed evenly over the surfaces of the entire scaffold. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea