Figure 1. Schematic overview of the experimental set up.

Top view shows 2D cell layer and 3D constructs on Bioflex plates with 2 (static strain protocol) or 4 (cyclic strain protocol) rectangular Velcro strips glued to the flexible membrane. Scale bar indicates 3 mm. Velcro strips leave space for cell-populated fibrin gels. Side views show schematic cross-section of the Flexcell setup used for cyclic strain application. When vacuum is applied, the flexible membrane is deformed over a rectangular loading post resulting in a uniaxial strain of the membrane and, thus, of the tissue. ECFCs were cultured in full medium, full medium +TGFβ1, bare medium and bare medium +TGFβ1. The bottom row shows analyses performed on the samples.