Journal: iScience

Article Title: Fabrication of RADA32/Ngf_EE/MSCs composite hydrogel and its protective mechanism against radiation-induced ototoxicity

doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115723

Figure Lengend Snippet: In vivo protective effects of RNM composite gel (A) Schematic of the in vivo experimental timeline and anatomical images of the mouse cochlea under a dissection microscope. (a, oval window; b, cochlear labyrinth.). (B–G) ABR tests performed 2 days before radiation exposure and 3, 7, and 14 days after drug administration to assess hearing function in mice. (H) Left: Confocal microscopy images of the cochlear basilar membrane 14 days after radiation exposure and intratympanic injection of RN, MSCs, or RNM hydrogel, stained with FITC-phalloidin to label hair cells. Scale bars, 20 μm. Right: Quantitative comparison of outer hair cell (OHC) and inner hair cell (IHC) survival rates post-intervention. Data are represented as the mean ± SEM ( N = 3, t test). (I) H&E staining images of mouse cochlear tissues extracted 14 days after radiation exposure and intratympanic injection of RN, MSCs, or RNM hydrogel. Data are represented as the mean ± SEM ( N = 3, t test). Scale bars, 20 μm. Significant differences between the groups are indicated by ∗ for p < 0.05, ∗∗ for p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ for p < 0.001, and ∗∗∗∗ for p < 0.0001.

Article Snippet: The whole-mount basilar membranes were stained with FITC-conjugated phalloidin (Catalog #G1248-100T, Servicebio) and observed under a laser scanning confocal microscope for hair cell morphology assessment and counting.

Techniques: In Vivo, Dissection, Microscopy, Confocal Microscopy, Membrane, Injection, Staining, Comparison