Fig. 8

Histological development of implanted seeded OptiMaix 2D scaffolds. Eighteen weeks after implantation, like in the unseeded scaffold, still dense regions of scaffold tissue can be found (EVG), but are already degrading and are broken up by the surrounding tissue and infiltrated by blood vessels (CD34, VEGF). Building of an urothelial layer and connective tissue can also be noticed (EVG, PanCK). Muscle tissue together with nerve fibres is growing in from the adjacent tissue (S100, α-SMA). Overall, the development of the implantation sites until 32 weeks is comparable to the unseeded OptiMaix 2D scaffolds. S scaffold, M muscle, CT connective tissue. Scale bar = 50 µm