FIG. 1.
Mineral-containing scaffolds enhanced BM-MSC osteogenic differentiation after 21 days relative to control scaffolds. (A) To determine how the presence of HA affects osteogenic differentiation, mineral-free (PLG) and mineral-containing (HA) scaffolds were utilized to differentiate BM-MSCs (1.5 × 106 per scaffold) into osteoblasts. (B) HA scaffolds maintained their initial geometry after 21 days of culture, while control (PLG) scaffolds significantly contracted. (C) BM-MSCs growth in HA scaffolds was greater than that in PLG scaffolds and was independent of differentiation as detected by fluorimetric DNA analysis. (D) ALP enzyme activity increased with osteogenic induction and was enhanced in HA scaffolds. (E) Osteogenic induction resulted in increased mineral content as assessed by microCT, which was greater in HA scaffolds. Same letters (a, b, or c) indicate similar mean values, and groupings with different letters indicate that the difference is significant by post hoc comparison of means with Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05). ALP, alkaline phosphatase; BM-MSC, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell; HA, hydroxyapatite; BM-MSC, bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cell; PLG, poly(lactide-co-glycolide). Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea