Figure 2

Cancer cells died after the temperature-responsive hydrogels expanded. Images of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and lung cancer H358 cells on the surface of RGD-modified hydrogels. For the case when (a) the hydrogel was fully contracted by incubating it at 37 °C for 48 h and (b) after the hydrogel was subsequently fully expanded by incubating it at 22 °C for 35 min. (c) Images of the cells after they were stained with trypan blue; dark spots indicate that the cells died. (d) After washing the surface of the RGD-modified hydrogels, the solution collected from washing was imaged. Dark spots were also present. (e) Morphology of MDA-MB-231 cells attached onto the surface of the RGD-modified hydrogel when the hydrogel expanded at low temperature. Images taken at 0, 5, 25, and 35 min after the temperature was reduced to 22 °C.