Fig. 4

HMF morphology and proliferation in 75 and 100 μg/ml mTG hydrogels. a HMFs were encapsulated in 75 and 100 μg/ml mTG hydrogels and allowed to incubate for 7 days. HMFs displayed a rounded morphology at days 1 and 7 in culture. b HMFs encapsulated in mTG cross-linked hydrogels were examined for changes in proliferation at day 7 of culture. HMFs in 75 and 100 μg/ml mTG hydrogels exhibited a significant decrease in proliferation in comparison to HMFs in compliant, moderate and stiff hydrogels. HMFs in the moderate hydrogels exhibited the most significant change in proliferation. ^* p ≤ 0.05; ^** p ≤ 0.01; ^*** p ≤ 0.001