Figure 6.

Substrate stiffness modulates cell differentiation and matrix secretion of pre-osteoblasts and fibroblasts. The mRNA level of (a) Runx2, (b) ALP and (c) OPN in pre-osteoblasts and (d) Acta2, (e) Fn1 and (f) Cola1 in fibroblasts. Gene expressions are relative to that of GAPDH and normalized to those on soft substrate. Three independent experiments (n = 3). Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, ns refers to no statistically significant difference.