Fig. 6.

Therapeutic efficacy of MSC-alginate beads in a rat OA model. a Hind limb withdrawal threshold as measure of pain over time. b Withdrawal threshold 1 week after treatment. c A representative example of the Safarin-O staining at the femorotibial compartment and d at the patellofemoral compartment. e The structural damage according to the Prizker score and GAG loss for femorotibial; f structural damage and GAG loss in patella. The maximum score for structural damage was 24 and for GAG loss 16, in which a higher score represents more damage. g HE staining of parapatellar recesses and indication of synovial membrane thickness. h–i Some degradation and encapsulation of alginate was observed (black arrows). j Quantification of synovial thickness over time (a p < 0.02, b p = 0.036, c p = 0.001). All data shown as mean ± SD. At week 4, n = 5 knees/group; week 8, n = 16 knees/group