Figure 4.

Fiber alignment dictates degree of hES-MP matrix anisotropy and construct modulus. (A) hES-MP constructs were cultured with or without dexamethasone (+ Dex) for up to 28 days and imaged at days 21 and 28 via SEM. (B) PCL scaffolds without cells (blank) and hES-MP constructs were cultured with dexamethasone for up to 21 days, and then, pseudo-static tensile tests were performed on unfixed scaffolds and constructs at days 0, 2, 7, 14, and 21 to calculate the Young’s Modulus (E); inserts show direction of tensile tests with respect to PCL fiber orientation; random, aligned parallel, and aligned perpendicular, respectively. Data are mean ± 95% CI for n = 5–6. ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01, and ^***p < 0.001 (two-tail unpaired t-test: cell-constructs vs. blank scaffold for each time point).