Fig. 5

Morphology and gene expression profile of hepatic differentiated MSCs using the microfluidic system. a MSCs were grown in the culture dish and microfluidic device and were allowed to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells within 21 days using the two-step hepatic induction protocol. Cells were observed under a light microscope. Scale bar = 100 μm. b Comparative gene expression of hepatic differentiated MSCs in the culture dish and the microfluidic device after 21 days of two-step induction. Hepatocyte-like cells derived from MSCs in the microfluidic system expressed higher hepatocyte-specific marker genes than those in the culture dish. Data presented as mean ± SD (n = 3). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, Student’s t test. c Comparative gene expression of hepatic differentiated MSCs in the culture dish and the microfluidic device during 21 days. Gene expressions of HNF4 and AFP at day 14 between the dish group and the microfluidic device group are similar. Data presented as mean ± SD (n = 3). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, Student’s t test