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. 2014 Jan 20;9(1):e84287. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084287

Figure 8. Vascular smooth muscle cells in collagen-containing capsules.

Figure 8

(A–C) SMCs in CSA/CMC capsules with a 1 mg/ml collagen gel. (A) 60 min after encapsulation, SMCs are well dispersed in the internal collagen matrix. (B) After 24 hours of culture, the cells had contracted the internal collagen gel and formed a dense cell-matrix mass. (C) Calcein-AM fluorescence of contracted cell mass. Inset shows phase contrast image. (D–F) SMC encapsulated in HA capsules with 1 mg/ml collagen-I gel. (D) 60 min after encapsulation, cells are well dispersed in the internal collagen matrix. (E) After 24 hours of culture, the cells contracted the internal collagen gel, simultaneously collapsing the entire capsule structure to form a denser module with a convoluted surface membrane. (F) Calcein-AM fluorescence of contracted cell mass. Inset shows phase contrast image. (G–I) Histology of contracted capsules. H&E (G,H) staining showing compacted capsule structure with minimal void volume. (I) Masson's Trichrome staining of contracted capsule, showing the distribution of collagen (blue) within the structure.