Fig. 1

VMC pattern formation in 3D HA hydrogel. a Schematic presentation for 3D cell culture inside a modified semi-synthetic HA hydrogel. b Culture of gelated HA hydrogel-encapsulated cells in microwells. c–h Sprouting and branching of VMCs in HA hydrogel. In 3D culture, VMCs were distributed nearly uniformly in HA hydrogel at Day 1 (24 h after seeded) and few cells had sprouted c, f. On day 7, VMC cells formed a network with branched structures d, g. On day 15, VMC cells aggregated into thicker and bulkier structures e, h. VMC cell F-actin and nuclei were stained with phalloidin (green) and DAPI (blue). Scale bars 100 μm