Fig. 3
Construction and in vivo implantation of NGCs. a Exosomes release from alginate hydrogel. The cumulative release of exosomes was tested by the Bradford Protein Assay Kit. b NGCs were implanted in SD rat sciatic nerve defect model. Alginate hydrogel with Exoempty or ExoNT-3 or without exosomes (1 mg/ml) was mixed (1:1 vol/vol) and syringed into 10 mm silicone conduits and then implanted in sciatic nerve defect in situ. Autogenous nerve inversed grafting served as the comparison. c Representative Caliper IVIS Lumina II images of rat. The exosomes were labeled DiR before NGCs construction. The rats were performed IVIS imaging after the implantation of NGCs. d qPCR analysis of NT-3 mRNA expression level in the distal segment of the transected nerves after 2, 4 and 8 weeks postoperation. e Statistical analysis of the diameter of regenerative nerve tissues after 8 weeks postoperation. f Gross observation of regenerative nerve tissues. Data are presented as mean ± SEM, n = 6 rats per group. *P < 0.05 by one-way ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni correction