Additional file 4: Figure S4. of Mechanically tuned 3 dimensional hydrogels support human mammary fibroblast growth and viability

Quantification of protein expression in compliant, moderate and stiff hydrogels. Protein expression for myofibroblast and ECM markers was quantified from encapsulated HMFs and normalized to the GAPDH loading control. Fibronectin expression was significantly higher at day 5 in comparison to days 3 and 7 for HMFs encapsulated in compliant hydrogels. Vimentin expression was markedly higher at day 3 in comparison to days 5 and 7 although the change wasn’t significantly different. For moderate hydrogels, collagens I and IV were higher at days 3 and 5 in comparison to day 7 with significance observed for collagen I. In stiff hydrogels, fibronectin expression was significantly higher at day 3 in comparison to days 5 and 7 and α-SMA was significantly increased at day 7 in comparison to days 3 and 5. While vimentin was upregulated at days 3 and 5 in comparison to day 7, this change wasn’t statistically significant. * p ≤ 0.05; ** p ≤ 0.01; *** p ≤ 0.001. (TIFF 429 kb)