Fig. 4

Comparison of apelin-13 attachment to acellular scaffolds via passive (PA) and active absorption (AA) indicates higher peptide attachment after bioconjugation of apelin-13 to the scaffold using EDC-NHS linker (A). (*** difference with NRA, P < 0.001; ### difference with DRA (AA), P < 0.001; and ^^^ difference with DRA (PA), P < 0.001). Cell viability within acellular tissues was found to be significantly lower in decellularized tissues washed by PBS compared to the control group, which is possibly due to toxic effects of detergent remnants on cell survival (B) The results of the incubation of the acellular scaffold with Bio-Beads SM-2 indicated no significant reduction in cell viability in this group. Cell proliferation was also higher in acellular tissues bioconjugated with apelin-13 compared to non-conjugated (C) (* difference with POS CTR, P < 0.05; ** difference with POS CTR, P < 0.01; *** difference with POS CTR, P < 0.001; # difference with RRA/AP-13, P < 0.05, and ## difference with RRA/AP-13, P < 0.01). NRA: Native Rat Aorta, DRA: Decellularized Rat Aorta, PA: Apelin-13 Passive Absorption, AA: Apelim-13 Active Absorption, POS CTR: Positive control, RRA: Recellularized Rat Aorta, RRA/AP-13: Recellularized Rat Aorta Conjugated with Apelin-13