Table 1 Summary results from the post-glycated three-dimensional collagen matrices

Short, thin, homogeny collagen fibers with no evidence of aggregation nor increment of reflection collagen fluorescence.

Large heterogenic thick fibers that formed aggregates. Increase of reflection collagen fluorescence at higher ribose concentration.

 Stiffness (absolute values, KPa +/− SD)

7^th day

0 mM

0.9 +/− 0.5

1.6 +/−0.3

14^th day

30 mM

0.47 +/− 0.31

1.33 +/− 0.51

240 mM

1.17 +/−087

1.71 +/−0.72

21^st

30 mM

0.97 +/−0.16

0.53 +/−0.21

240 mM

2.5 +/−1.35

1.03 +/−0.43

Viability

Data not shown

[Ribose]

[Ribose]

240 mM → cell death

240 mM → cell death

≤30 mM → ↑ mitochondrial metabolism

≤30 mM → ↑ mitochondrial metabolism

Data not shown

[Ribose]

[Ribose]

240 mM → cell death

240 mM → cell death

≤30 mM → Better viability (green stain)

≤30 mM → Better viability (green stain)

Cell morphology: round, stellar, short dendritic cells (See Additional file 3).

Cell morphology: spindle, long dendritic cells (See Additional file 3).

Data not shown

[Ribose]

[Ribose]

Controls (0 mM): from 14^th day 5 mM and 15 mM: Between 14^th and 21^st days of culture.

5 mM, 15 mM and controls (0 mM): between 14^th and 21^st day of culture.

At ↑[Ribose] → autofluorescence increase.

At ↑[Ribose] → autofluorescence increase.

Higher autofluorescence at the 14^th and 21^st day compared with DMEM matrices (*).

Higher autofluorescence at the 1^st and 7^th day compared with PBS matrices (*).

Protein synthesis

NA

Gene expression (21^st day): at 5 (*) and 15 mM of [Ribose] and controls.

Protein expression (14^th and 21^st days): in all conditions, particularly with 5 and 15 mM of [Ribose].

NA

Protein expression: ↑ in a time-dependent manner at 14 and 21 days (*).