FIG. 3.

μCT analysis. (A) Representative μCT images of mineralized tissue formation in rat mandibular defects at 3 and 6 weeks postimplantation. (B) New hard tissue volume (%) within each scaffold was quantified using μCT image analyses. Data are reported as a mean ± standard deviation. Statistically different mineralized tissue volume formation was found between the BMP-loaded scaffolds and the other experimental conditions at the same time period (p < 0.01). (C) Average hard tissue density within each scaffold was quantified using μCT image analyses. Significant differences were found in hard tissue density between the 3-week and 6-week of CH implants (P < 0.05), SA implants (P < 0.05) and BMP implants (P < 0.01). BMP, bone morphogenetic protein; uCT, microcomputed tomography. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea