Figure 5

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) remain viable after long-term microencapsulation (n = 3). (A) Representative images of MSCs encapsulated (left), immediately after removal of capsules (center), and after several days of culture (right). (B) Viability, as determined by Trypan blue exclusion, of MSCs removed from capsules at 5-day intervals starting at 2 days after encapsulation. (C) Numbers of viable cells removed from equal numbers of capsules at 5-day intervals starting at 2 days after encapsulation. **P <0.01. (D) Population doubling times of MSCs removed from capsules at 5-day intervals starting at 2 days post-encapsulation. **P <0.01. (E) Representative phase-contrast images of cultured MSCs removed from capsules 22 days post-encapsulation as compared with control MSCs that were never encapsulated. Scale bars = 50 μm.