In Vitro Cultivation of Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells on Surface-Modified Crosslinked Collagen Scaffolds

Figure 2

Cell growth of GFP-iHCECs on collagen hydrogels. (a) Representative images of cells cultivated for 36 hrs on RHC I, RHC I F-μCP, CLP-12 EDC, CLP-12, and CLP-18 demonstrate that cells proliferate in a random pattern. (b) Micrographs of cultures on surface-modified CLP-12 F-μCP and CLP-12 3D at 12 hrs, 24 hrs, 36 hrs, and 48 hrs. Cells cultured on surface-modified CLP hydrogels display a proliferation pattern that is being influenced by the fibronectin striping and 3D grooving. Orientation of F-μCP stripes is shown with a double white arrow. Grooves of CLP-12 3D hydrogels are marked by white asterisk (). (c) The area of confluence at 72 hrs of culture. RHC I hydrogels displayed less confluence when compared to any of the CLP DMTMM hydrogels. RHC I F-μCP showed less confluence when compared to CLP-12, CLP18%, and CLP-12 3D. ● and ●●● indicate and , respectively, as compared to RHC I. as compared to RHC I F-μCP.

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