FIG. 8.

(A) Scheme for preparation of pseudo-islet cell aggregates from a high-density MIN6 cell suspension. (B) PDN hydrogels protect nonadherent MIN6 aggregates from H₂O₂-induced cell death. When cultured in normal cell media, differences between cellular viability in the different substrates were insignificant, indicating that the hydrogels are not cytotoxic to the pseudo-islets. When 100 μM H₂O₂ was added to the cell media, the PDN hydrogel significantly protected viability of cultured cells compared to CDN and TCPS, while the CDN provided an intermediate level of protection relative to PDN and TCPS. (*p < 0.05 PDN versus TCPS and CDN, ^┼p < 0.05, CDN vs. TCPS, n = 3, data expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean.) TCPS, tissue culture polystyrene. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea