MSC characterization and viability in 3D culture within the Si-HPMC hydrogel.

<p>(A and B) Flow cytometric analysis of MSC for CD29, CD54, CD90, CD34, CD45 and CD86 expression. 10,000 events were scored. Results are expressed as % of positive cells in the whole population on representative histogram plots. (C and D) MSC were cultured in 3D Si-HPMC hydrogel for the indicated times. (C) Labeling cells with calcein-AM (green color) and with EthD-1 (red color) revealed living and dead cells, respectively. Representative samples of MSC cultures visualized by confocal microscopy. (D) As described in the Materials section, the percentages of living and dead MSC cultured in 3D within hydrogel over 7 days (<i>p</i> = NS as compared between time points, one-way ANOVA). All values represent mean ± SEM. Scale bar = 100 µm.