Figure 6.

Schematic of encapsulation methods. (A) Individually encapsulating follicles is necessary for larger, multilayer secondary follicles that can grow in absence of paracrine factors from other follicles. (B) Multiple follicle encapsulation (10/bead) is necessary for two-layer secondary or earlier stage follicles that require secretion of paracrine factors from other follicles to grow. (C) The droplet method encapsulates follicles by expelling alginate directly from a pipette tip into the crosslinking solution. (B) The parafilm method encapsulates follicles by placing them in a drop of alginate on a piece of parafilm and inverting the drop onto the surface of the crosslinking solution.