Fig. 2.

Characterisation of PLGA scaffolds. In a, degradation profile of PLGA scaffolds at 50:50 and 75:25 PLA:PGA ratios and manufactured with different pore size (small, large and mixed). SEM images of the surface of non-seeded scaffolds and Haematoxylin and Eosin-stained histological analyses of cell-seeded PLGA 50:50 scaffolds manufactured with different pore sizes (b: small pore sizes in the range 74–147 µm and 74.96 ± 0.15 % porosity; c: mixed pore sizes in the range 74–147 and 300–500 µm and 81.73 ± 0.02 % porosity; and d: large pore sizes in the range 300–500 µm and 77.06 ± 0.04 % porosity) after 24-h incubation time. Biocompatibility of PLGA scaffolds loaded with cells expanded from cartilage tissue as determined by glucose consumption and lactate production in culture (e). In f, paraffin section of a cell-seeded PLGA 50:50 scaffold after 12 days in culture. In g, chondrogenesis assay for expanded cells from cartilage (samples 1 and 2) and MSC (sample 3) differentiated for 12 days in vitro either in monolayer or loaded onto PLGA scaffolds. Col I type-I collagen; Col II type-II collagen. Scale bars = 400 μm, except in e = 200 μm