Figure 4

3D confocal rendering of PEVA scaffolds after growth of Caco-2 cells in the bioreactors and under static conditions. Images were taken at 20X magnification and stained for proliferation with EdU staining (green) (A1-2) and apoptosis with Tunel Assay (green) (B1-2). Caco-2 monolayers grown in the bioreactors have more proliferating cells and the apoptotic cells are localized to the tips of the villi where the highest shear is. Conversely, the static monolayers have less proliferating cells near the base and a large increase in apoptotic cells. A cross-section of the scaffolds show that apoptosis (green) is limited to the tips of the villi under flow conditions, and conversely is along the length of the villi in static conditions (C1-2).