Figure 3.

Bone histology obtained after using HOOC-Si (a), Zn-HOOC-Si (b), Dox-HOOC-Si (c) loaded membranes, and blank control (no membrane) (d), dyed with toluidine blue to visualize mineralized bone, at 6 weeks of healing time. Single arrows point the presence of osteocytes. Canaliculi crossed through the bone matrix to bridge up a large extend of the membranes (double arrows) (Figure 3a,(cII)). The extended network of osteocyte dendritic processes which reproduced the characteristic dendritic morphology joined at gap junctions (pointers) (Figure 3a,b,(cI),d). They were connected and intersected with each other by fine cytoplasmic processes and their branches. At high magnification, the osteocyte appeared embedded within its mineral lacuna (Figure 3b,(cII)).