Fig 1: Differentiation of hASCs towards endothelial cells (ECs) in NFC hydrogel. (A) Differentiation of hASCs in 0.125% NFC hydrogel in endothelial growth medium for 21 days. Scale bars, 100 µm (d1) and 50 µm (d10, d21). (B) Differentiated cells in 0.125% NFC hydrogel on d7 showing branching of cellular structures (arrows). Scale bars, 25 µm. (C) Western blot showing expression of endothelial specific marker CD31 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) in hASCs vs. human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) (n = 3, 1 technical replicate). (D) Western blot of pericyte marker NG2 in hASCs and HUVECs. (E) Quantification of NG2 expression (n = 3, 1 technical replicate). * p < 0.05. Ang-1, angiopoietin-1; diff., differentiated cells.