Fig 1.
Graphical scheme of (a) the electrospinning process of patterned mats, scale bar of 500 μm reported in the grid, (b) digital camera image of the obtained sample, scale bar of 1 cm, (c) light microscope image of the obtained sample, scale bar 1 mm.
Fig 2.
Detailed step-by-step protocol for the sample preparation for MRI assessment by embedding the scaffold in agarose.
Fig 3.
Light microscopy images related to the top view and the cross-section of the patterned electrospun scaffolds seeded with porcine ovarian follicles 10 days after the seeding: (a,c) PCL and (b,d) blend of PCL and gelatin. An indication of the scaffold, carbon tape and holder is reported in c. For all images: magnification 5X, scale bar 200 μm.
Fig 4.
SEM micrographs (a,b) of PCL and (c,d) PCL/gelatin scaffolds without follicles (a,c) and with follicles (b,d) 10 days after the seeding (H&E staining). For PCL scaffolds, the magnification is 150X and the scale bar is 100 μm for PCL/gelatin scaffolds the magnification is 1000X and the scale bar is 10 μm.
Fig 5.
SEM micrographs of electrospun scaffolds with follicles 10 days after the seeding (a,b) PCL scaffold, magnification 3000X, scale bar 20 μm and (c,d) PCL/gelatin scaffolds, at different magnifications: (c) 500X and (d) 1000X, scale bar 20 μm.
Fig 6.
MR images of agarose embedded scaffolds with a resolution of 23x23x80μm3 (a,b,c) PCL scaffold and (d) PCL/gelatin scaffold, scale bar 500 μm.
Fig 7.
Representative fluorescence micrographs of LIVE/DEAD assay (a) control (PET membrane), (b) PCL and (c) PCL/gelatin scaffolds, magnification 2.5X, scale bar 500 μm.
Fig 8.
Confocal microscopy images of the follicles inside the scaffolds (a,c) PCL and (b,d) PCL/gelatin. Green points correspond to living cells, blue fibers represent the electrospun mesh and, within the follicle, the presence of single cells. Snapshot of 3D View are reported in (c,d). Scale bar 50 μm.