The topographical microenvironment guides podocytes’
morphology
and function. Merged images of F-actin and DAPI nuclear staining (A–D)
and SEM images showing the cell morphology (E–H) of podocytes,
cultured on the flat PDMS (Flat), hydrogel tube (Tube), hydrogel knot
without microconvex topography (Knot (-topo)), and hydrogel knot with
microconvex topography (Knot (+topo)), respectively. Quantification
of digitation ratio (I) and process length of podocytes (J). Digitation
ratio is defined as the digitated length over the boundary length.
The process length (μm) is the average length of the measured
processes. The quantification method is described in Figure S7. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. (K) The concentration
of transferred albumin in the middle well for the hydrogel tube (Tube),
hydrogel tube with knot (Knot (-topo)), and hydrogel tube with knot
and microconvex topography (Knot (+topo)) with cells being differentiated
for 0, 6, 10, and 14 days was tested. The concentration was normalized
to the concentration of transferred albumin measured for the cell-free
scaffold on day 0. The normalized concentrations of each group were
analyzed by one-way repeated measures ANOVA over time. The normalized
concentrations of the three groups on Day 0, Day 6, Day 10, and Day
14 were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Data are shown as average ±
s.d., * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01.