Figure 6

A representative histologic appearance of EVPOMEs manufactured for total 11 days, 4 days in a submerged and subsequent 7 days in an air–liquid interface condition. (n = 5): Hematoxylin and eosin staining (original magnifications, left panels 4 × , right panels 20 ×) The original microstructures fabricated on the scaffold surface cross-linked with 1% EDC were relatively well-preserved (Fig. 6A), whereas those without EDC cross-linking were hardly maintained (Fig. 6B). Additionally, epithelial thickening was observed on the scaffolds without EDC cross-linking due to the scaffold contraction. (A) 1% collagen scaffolds with 1% EDC crosslinking. (a) Non-patterned control scaffold; (b–e) indicate micropatterned collagen scaffolds originally designed by sample IDs of 1, 2, 3, and 4 shown in Fig. 1, respectively. (B) 1% collagen scaffolds without 1% EDC crosslinking. (a) Non-patterned control; (b–e) indicate micropatterned collagen scaffolds originally designed by sample IDs of 1, 2, 3, and 4 shown in Fig. 1, respectively.