Fig 9. The engineered constructs remain stable after 6 weeks of subcutaneous implantation in nude mice.

Collagen sponges seeded with HACs were cultured for 21 days in static or dynamic conditions (program 2, n = 3) in the presence of BIT and then implanted into the subcutaneous pockets of nude mice. Representative pictures showing HE staining of the sponges after 6 weeks in vivo are reported in the upper panel. The lower panels show parallel sections of the scaffold core stained for type II and type I collagen by IHC (upper panel: scale bars 100 μm; lower panel: scale bars 10 μm).