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Fig. 3 | Biomaterials Research

Fig. 3

From: Development of cell-laden multimodular Lego-like customizable endometrial tissue assembly for successful tissue regeneration

Fig. 3

Analyzing various physical properties of the fabricating biomaterial mixture for tissue block synthesis. The mixture of two biomaterials (collagen and hyaluronic acid) was properly polymerized by adding two blood clotting factors (thrombin and fibrinogen) as a natural crosslinker agent, which markedly reinforced the mechanical properties of the tissue block fabricating natural polymers (A). The optimal biomaterial combinations, which can encapsulate various types of endometrial cells, appeared to retain water and had a soft texture with white color (B). Vertical and horizontal scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the fabricated biomaterials showed an irregularly distributed and highly porous microstructure with a pore diameter between 10 and 50 μm throughout the biomaterial mixture (C). Their mechanical strength was analyzed using the stress–strain plot under uniaxial compression (pressing) force with a material testing machine. An increasing force was gradually applied at a loading rate of 5 mm/min− 1 until the sample mechanically failed to analyze the compressive strength according to our previously established conditions (D). For evaluation of the hydration-induced swelling behavior of the biomaterial mixture, samples were hydrated in PBS (pH 7.4) or DW at 37 °C with gentle shaking. PBS or DW was completely removed from biomaterials, and then, their water absorption capacities were calculated by weighing before and after soaking (E). The rheological behavior of the biomaterial mixture was estimated as described in the methods section, and applying different shear rates ranging from 1 s− 1 to 40 s− 1 allowed the measurement of their shear thinning and shear thickening potential (F). Significant differences are presented. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.005, and ***p < 0.001 (two-sample t-test)

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