Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: A composite hydrogel enables the spatiotemporal delivery of distinct cytokines to drive the native vascularized bone regeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.048

Figure Lengend Snippet: Angiogenic capacity formulations of HUVECs in response to different composite biomaterial in vitro. A) Calcein/PI staining of HUVECs seeded on glass slides, showing the cell migration profiles of HUVECs treated with different material groups, scale bar = 200 μm; B) Quantitative analysis of the intercellular blank areas in each group, with the baseline group serving as the negative control; C) Angiogenic images of HUVECs co-cultured with different composite materials for 4 h and 8 h respectively, scale bar = 250 μm; D–G) Quantitative assessment of angiogenic capacity in each group via ImageJ software analysis of key angiogenic parameters. Abbreviations: NC = negative control group; V = exogenous VEGF protein-only group; GV=GelMA + exogenous VEGF protein group; GVE = GelMA + VEGF + ECM group; GVEP= GelMA/VEGF + ECM/PCSK9 group. Statistical notations: ∗∗means that compared with the control group, p < 0.01; ns = no significant difference between group.

Article Snippet: A Calcein/PI Cell Viability/Cytotoxicity Assay Kit (Beyotime, China) was used to recognize the living and dead cells.

Techniques: In Vitro, Staining, Migration, Negative Control, Cell Culture, Software, Control

Journal: Materials Today Bio

Article Title: Rational design of FAP-targeted sEVs delivered by microneedles for precision treatment of hypertrophic scars via ferroptosis in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts

doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.103117

Figure Lengend Snippet: In vitro antifibrotic effects of sEVs ErF on HSFs. (A, B) EdU staining and quantification of proliferating HSFs treated with Con, Er, sEVs Er , or sEVs ErF . Scale bar, 100 μm. (C) CCK-8 assay showing dose-dependent viability changes. (D, E) Transwell migration images and quantification of migrated HSFs. Scale bar, 100 μm. (F, G) Wound healing assay images and migration area (%) over time. Scale bar, 400 μm. (H-K) Western blot and densitometric analysis of COL I, COL III, and α-SMA; GAPDH, loading control. (L, M) α-SMA immunofluorescence and quantitative fluorescence intensity in HSFs. Scale bar, 50 μm. (N, O) Calcein-AM/PI flow cytometry and quantification of PI-positive cells. Data are mean ± SD; ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001.

Article Snippet: Cell viability and death were assessed using a Calcein-AM/PI Cell Viability/Cytotoxicity Kit (Beyotime, China).

Techniques: In Vitro, Staining, CCK-8 Assay, Migration, Wound Healing Assay, Western Blot, Control, Immunofluorescence, Fluorescence, Flow Cytometry

Journal: Materials Today Bio

Article Title: Thermoreversible cell-derived extracellular matrix only hydrogel (CEOgel): Development, characterization, and applications

doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.103040

Figure Lengend Snippet: Biocompatibility and application of CEOgel in vitro . (A) HUVEC, UCMSC, and BJ cells were cultured on CEOgel-coated plates for 24 h and stained with Calcein-AM and EthD-1 to visualize live and dead cells under a fluorescence microscope. (scale bars = 500 μm) (B) Cell viability was quantified by CCK-8 assay after 72 h of indirect co-culture with CEOgel in a transwell system; untreated cells served as controls. (C) The proliferation of HUVEC, UCMSC, and BJ cells was measured by CCK-8 assay after 7 days of incubation with CEOgel. (D) TNF-α secretion from RAW 264.7 macrophages was quantified after 6 h and 24 h of incubation with CEOgel; untreated and LPS-treated cells served as negative and positive controls, respectively. (E) Images show CEOgel before and after 7 days of incubation in cell culture medium. (F) Calcein-AM staining visualized tube formation of HUVECs encapsulated in CEOgel after 1 and 3 days of culture. (scale bars = 200 μm) (G) cENF solutions at 20 and 27 mg/mL were loaded into microfluidic devices, where in situ gelation formed stable CEOgels. (scale bars = 200 μm) (H) Confocal microscopy captured RFP-HUVEC vascular network formation within CEOgel (20 mg/mL) under flow conditions after 24 and 48 h of culture. (scale bars = 200 μm) (I) Quantitative analysis evaluated vascular network parameters, including the number of branch points, meshes, nodes, and total length. (J) Live/dead assays assessed cell viability of CRC organoids in CEOgel at day 2 and 9. (scale bars = 100 μm) (K) Bright field images show colorectal cancer (CRC) organoids grown in CEOgel at day 5 and 10. (scale bars = 100 μm) (L) WST-8 assays quantified CRC-organoid proliferation in CEOgel. Data are presented as mean ± SD; ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001, n.s. = not significant ( p > 0.05); n = 3. (M) Immunofluorescence staining revealed expression of the proliferation marker, Ki-67 and the epithelial adhesion marker, E-cadherin in CRC organoids cultured in 33 mg/mL CEOgel. (scale bars = 50 μm).

Article Snippet: The effect of 3D culture in CEOgel on cellular proliferation was assessed using the water-soluble tetrazolium salt WST-8 (Quanti-MaxTM WST-8 Cell Viability Assay Kit, Biomax, Gyeonggi-do, Korea).

Techniques: In Vitro, Cell Culture, Staining, Fluorescence, Microscopy, CCK-8 Assay, Co-Culture Assay, Incubation, In Situ, Confocal Microscopy, Immunofluorescence, Expressing, Marker