VIC-laden hydrogels were cultured up to 21 days in control media (CM), osteogenic media (OM), or osteogenic media with TNFα (OM + TNFa). Silencing of α-SMA (Si-αSMA) was performed twice per week. Scramble (SCR) SiRNA served as control. A, α-SMA mRNA expression. B, Runx2 mRNA expression. C, Calcium content normalized for DNA content at day 21. D, Alizarin red S staining of VIC-laden hydrogels. Data depicted as mean ± SD, *: p < 0.05.