Fig. 6

Protein expression of differentiated hepatocyte like-cells from MSCs in the culture dish and microfluidic device. Expression of a marker of functional hepatocyte (albumin) was assessed by immunofluorescence staining from differentiated hepatocyte-like cells after 21 days of induction (a). Cells were observed under a light microscope at 200× magnification. Scale bar = 100 μm. In addition, comparison of LDL uptake and urea production of MSCs cultured in the (b) culture dish and (c) microfluidic device are shown. MSCs were fixed at day 21 and stained with LDL uptake in both cell groups. The percentage of LDL-positive MSCs at day 21 is shown in (b). LDL uptake was higher in the MSCs cultured in microfluidic device compared with those cultured in the culture dish. (c) After 21 days of two-step induction, higher urea production was observed in hepatocyte-like cells growing in the microfluidic device than in the culture dish. Data presented as mean ± SD (n = 3). ***P < 0.001, Student's t test. DAPI 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. LDL low-density lipoprotein