Figure 11
Fibroblasts network formation in the core compartment at day 7 of co-culture. Confocal images of core–shell hydrogel strands with encapsulated DiD-labeled HepG2 (red) in algMC + Matrigel shell and DiI-labeled NIH 3T3 fibroblasts (cyan) embedded in the core of algMC, algMC supplemented with fibrin and algMC supplemented with plasma. Viable cells are stained green with Calcein AM, indicating formation of fibroblast networks within the fibrin- and plasma-functionalized core while a round morphology of the fibroblasts is maintained in unmodified algMC core. Upper tile gives an overview of a section of the core–shell strand; magnification 5x, scale bar 500 µm. Lower tile shows higher magnification (10x) images of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts in the core; Scale bars 400 µm.
