Fig 8. Effect of astaxanthin on differentiation of MSCs.

(A) The effect of 20 ng/mL astaxanthin-encapsulated mPEG-PCL micelles on (i) chondrogenesis (ii) adipogenesis and (iii) osteogenesis of MSCs. MSCs treated with unmodified differentiation media and MSCs treated with non-encapsulated mPEG-PCL micelles were used as control groups. Chondrocytes were stained with Alcian Blue. Adipocytes were stained with Oil Red O. Osteocytes were stained with Alizarin Red. Scale bar denotes 100 μm. (B) Stained area of chondrocytes, adipocytes and osteocytes were quantified using Image J. Data was presented as mean ± standard deviation and normalized to the controls. Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation. ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc analysis was performed (n = 3). * denotes p < 0.05.