Skip to main content
Fig. 1 | Biomaterials Research

Fig. 1

From: Biomimetic hydrogel blanket for conserving and recovering intrinsic cell properties

Fig. 1

Fabrication process of biomimetic hydrogel blanket and the physicochemical effects on cell culture environment. (A) Schematic diagram of the manufacturing method of the hydrogel blanket and the picture of the manufactured hydrogel blanket (Ai). Change of sedimentation depth of hydrogel blanket according to the amount of solution in the reservoir (B) and consequent cell-hydrogel blanket interaction diagram (C). Depiction of the environment of cells in culture without a hydrogel blanket (D) and observation result of their actual morphology using a phase-contrast microscope (E). The cultural environment diagram of the cells with the hydrogel blanket applied (F) and the consequent cell shape observed with a phase-contrast microscope (G). (H) 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 w/v % of alginate solution before reaction with calcium (Hi horizontal row). Image of the hydrogel blanket (alginate gel layer) formed on the membrane after reaction with 1 M calcium solution (Hii horizontal row). (I) The oxygen permeability of case without both gel and membrane (Control, Open), case with only membrane (Membrane), and the hydrogel blanket with membrane with gel of each concentration of 1, 2, 4, 6, 8%. (J) The results of western blot analysis of TGF-β, HIF-1, and β-actin expressed in cells when the hydrogel blanket environment of 2% gel concentration was applied to chondrocytes for 2 days. C (cell cultured without DCP, control), P (cell cultured with hydrogel blanket applied). (K) Total pressure according to the concentration of alginate used in the manufacture of hydrogel blanket. And the values used to calculate the total pressure (hydrogel blanket volume, buoyancy, and cell culture media density). ANOVA analysis and Tukey’s post-hoc test were performed for statistical significance for I and K, and the mean and standard deviation were presented as numerical values for I. N.S. (not significant), *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001

Back to article page