Figure 6.

IHC analysis of α-SMA expression, a myofibroblast marker, on the fibrous capsule of explanted hydrogel after 3 days (a–c), 10 days (d–f), and 21 days (g–i). Hydrogels were crosslinked with glutaraldehyde at concentrations of 0.05% (a, d, g), 0.1% (b, e, h), or 0.3% (c, f, i). H denotes the hydrogel, while FC denotes the fibrous capsule. Yellow boxes and insets indicate a representative region of intensity quantification. (j) Negative control (delete primary) and (k) positive control (spleen). Scale bar is 200 μm. (l) Average staining intensity. Statistical significance was determined using two way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc analysis. Note that swelling of the hydrogel in the IHC reagents accounts for its dark staining.