Figure 6
From: Engineering biofunctional in vitro vessel models using a multilayer bioprinting technique
Fluorescence micrographs of the endothelium in sections, qualitative and quantitative assessment of collagen IV expression. Confluent layer of Endothelial cells (EC) at the channel wall after 21 days of flow reveals the expression of VE-Cadherin at the intercellular junctions (white arrow) (a–c) (CD31 in green, VE-Cadherin in red, DAPI in blue, 40x). Representative fluorescent microscopy images of single channel cross sections reveal increased production of collagen IV after both one and two weeks of dynamic cultivation for the channels lining a single layer of EC (d,f,h,j,l,n) in comparison to the complete multi-layered structures (e,g,i,k,m,o) (CD31 in green, collagen IV in red and DAPI in blue, 40x). A statistically significant increase (*p < 0.05) in the production of collagen IV was also shown by the quantification of collagen IV area fraction (p).
