Figure 2
Graphical representation of the tissue engineered in vitro fibrous cap models generated. Collagenous tissues were generated by seeding HVSCs in fibrin gels between pares of Velcro strips and exposing them to three different (dynamic) cell culture protocols (A). More specifically, samples were first statically cultured for 14 days, whereafter they were exposed to another 7 days of static culture (group 1), 7 days of intermittent strain (group 2, i.e. alternating periods of straining (1 h, 4% strain) and rest (3 h)) or continuous strain (group 3, i.e. 4% strain). A soft inclusion was created at day 7 to mimic plaque heterogeneity. At day 21, samples were analyzed to determine cell number and collagen content, collagen architecture, collagen type, LOX presence and mechanical properties (B). HVSCs human vena saphena cells, HYP hydroxyproline, WM whole mount, LOX lysyl oxidase.
