Biocompatibility of Alginates for Grafting: Impact of Alginate Molecular Weight

Figures & data

Figure 1. A representative example for objective quantification of microbead induced fibrosis. (A) Selection of fibrotic tissue. (B) Selection of alginate capsules. The histograms in (A) fibrotic tissue and (B) alginate capsules are generated (see methods) and afterwards fibrotic reaction was calculated as fibrotic area per alginate capsule (µm²). (Go to www.dekker.com to view this figure in color.)

Table 1. Molecular Weight Distribution of Different Alginate Preparations Performed by Gel Permeation Chromatography. (A) Autoclaved Alginate (LV‐Alginate). (B) Autoclaved Alginate and Afterwards Sterile‐Filtrated (LV^*‐Alginate). (C) Sterile‐Filtrated Alginate Solution (MV‐Alginate)

	A	B	C
Alginate	LV	LV^*	MV
Mw × 10^6g/mol	0.7–1.0	0.6–0.67	1.2–1.3
Viscosity mPa s^− 1	1–2.5	0.8–2.0	5–7

Figure 2. Molecular weight distribution of different alginate preparations performed by gel permeation chromatography. (A) Autoclaved alginate (LV‐alginate). (B) Autoclaved alginate and afterwards sterile‐filtrated (LV^*‐alginate). (C) Sterile‐filtrated alginate solution (MV‐alginate). (Go to www.dekker.com to view this figure in color.)

Figure 3. Extent of tissue fibrosis induced by transplantation of alginate beads made of different alginate solutions into a muscle pouch. Fibrotic reaction was calculated as area of fibrotic tissue/capsule, corresponding to µm²/capsule (dependent on magnification and the resolution of the image). Values are means ± SEM. (Go to www.dekker.com to view this figure in color.)

Figure 4. Extent of tissue fibrosis induced by different empty alginate beads or multilayer microcapsules (A–D) into a muscle pouch. (A) Alginate beads made MV‐alginate without a covering outer membrane. (B) Alginate beads made of MV‐alginate with a PEI‐PAA‐PEI‐alginate (MV‐alginate) covering outer membrane. (C) Alginate beads made of LV‐alginate with a PEI‐PAA‐PEI‐alginate (MV‐alginate) covering membrane. (D) Alginate beads made of LV‐alginate with a PEI‐PAA‐PEI‐alginate (LV‐alginate) covering membrane. Fibrotic reaction was calculated as area of fibrotic tissue/capsule, corresponding to µm²/capsule (dependent on magnification and the resolution of the image). Values are means ± SEM. No statistical differences were found between the values of group A vs. B. (Go to www.dekker.com to view this figure in color.)