Fig. 3.
In vitro chondrogenic and osteogenic pre-differentiation induction of MSC-seeded microcryogels. (A) Schematic of the chondrogenic induction process. (B) Toluidine blue and Alcian blue staining of control microcryogels and CH-Microcryogels after 7 d of chondrogenic induction. Relative gene expression of (C) COL2, (D) SOX9, and (E) ACAN. (F) Schematic of the osteogenic induction process. (G) Alizarin red staining of control microcryogels and OS-Microcryogels after 7 d of osteogenic induction. (H) Quantitative detection of ALP in MSCs after 7 d of osteogenic induction on control microcryogels and OS-Microcryogels. (I) Quantitative detection of ALP in MSCs on 2D culture plates. Relative gene expression of (J) RUNX2, (K) OCN, (L) COL1, and (M) ALP. (N) Atomic force microscopy (AFM) of microcryogels after 7 d of chondrogenic and osteogenic induction. F-actin and DAPI staining of MSCs cultured in microcryogels after 7 d of (O) chondrogenic induction and (P) osteogenic induction. (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.005, n. s. represents no significant difference, n = 3).