Table 1.

Experimental Groups, Scaffold Components and Number of Samples Taken from Each Group Used for Each Assay

Groups	Description	Injection Components	Number of Animals	3D Intensity Footprints Achilles Functional Index (AFI)	Histological Analysis	Biomechanical Testing
ASCs+GMs	ASCs and GMs	ASCs (105)-loaded 120 GMs in 60 μL DMEM	16	4b	3c	5
ASCs	Cell control	106 ASCs in 60-μL DMEM	16	4b	3c	5
GMs	GM control	120 blank GMs in 60-μL DMEM	16	4b	3c	5
Defect	Blank defecta	60-μL DMEM	16	4b	3c	5

Notes: ^aComplete transverse incisions was made 7 mm proximal to the calcaneal insertion with no surgical repair. ^bn = 4 picked at random from each experimental groups at 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 days. ^cn = 3 sampled randomly from each experimental groups of eight animals at 2 weeks and 4 weeks with the remaining five samples used for biomechanical testing.