Figure 2

Confirmation of preservation of the micro-anatomy, biochemical and biomechanical properties of the ALTCs. SEM imaging of; (a–c), fresh liver samples, and (d–f), decellularized liver cubes showing the preservation of a portal tract (asterisks), collagen fibrils and hepatocyte pockets (octothorpe). Second harmonic generation analysis of fibrillar collagens structure (green) of (g), fresh liver samples with the presence of cells (red), (h), fresh liver samples with the subtraction of cells and (i), decellularized liver cubes. (j,k) Confocal auto-fluorescence microscopy showing preservation of the vascular trees in both samples. (l,m) Pseudo-colour images based on the first six components, highlighting the overall morphology of the tissue samples. (n,o) Raman spectra from different points on the cubes, showing similar spectra pattern to collagen. (p), Biochemical peaks of collagen proteins demonstrating no variability between the 2 decellularized cubes. (q) AFM comparison of tissue stiffness between fresh and decellularized liver cubes. Data are expressed as mean ± s.d. *, p < 0.05. Scale bars, 100 μm (a,d), or 10 μm (b,c,e,f), or 100 μm (g–i). Biological replicates (n = 8) are performed for (a–i), or (n = 3) for q.