Figure 1.

Schematic representation of the used ECT model. HHF-1 were mixed with bovine collagen and different percentages of C-MWCNT to generate ECTs in a 48-well mold plate. Each mold was equipped with two flexible poles with a spring constant of 1.5 mN/mm. At the end of the 5 days culture period, tissue contraction was analyzed based on the decline in pole distance. Then, the ECTs were subjected to ultimate uniaxial tensile measurements and the obtained stress-strain curves were used for the analysis of different biomechanical parameters. The herein presented parameters together with their functional equivalents are depicted in the representative stress-strain curve. The most important advantages of the used methods are listed underneath the scheme. Data from references.^42–52