FIG. 5.

Proliferation of NHIK 3025 cells normalized to initial cell seeding when cultured in alginate gel disks as a function of time (A). An approximate exponential increase in cell number was found with a cell doubling time of 3.0±0.3 days. Volume of spheroids as a function of time, with an almost exponential increase between days 0 and 16 before it levels off (B). The calculated time to obtain double volume was based on the exponential fit of data between days 0 and 16 and was found to be 1.43±0.05 days. The images show distribution of calcein-stained cells throughout the thickness of the gel at the day of seeding (C), inside the gel after 6 days of culture (D), isolated after 16 days of culture (E), and inside the gel after 23 days of culture (F). Magnification: ×40 (C–E) and ×100 (F). Scale bars: 100 μm. Error bars present SD.