Figure 2.

In vivo testing of Dex-UPy hydrogel for bone and cartilage tissue regeneration. a) Schematic illustration of self-integration and the application in cartilage–bone tissue complex regeneration. Hydrogels encapsulating chondrocytes (blue) and BMSCs/BMP-2 (red) were integrated into a construct and then implanted subcutaneously in a nude mouse to form the cartilage–bone tissue complex. (b–e) Subcutaneous implantation of the cell-gel constructs. b) A section of BMSCs/BMP-2 only group, stained with Alizarin red (positive staining represents mineralized bone tissue). c) A section of chondrocytes only group, stained with Alcian blue (positive staining represents cartilage tissue). d) A section of the self-integrated group, stained with both Alizarin red and Alcian blue. e) A magnified image of the interface region of image ‘c’.

Adapted with permission. ^[41] 2015, Wiley.