FIGURE 3.

Influence of scaffold degradation by surface erosion on osteochondral defect repair. (A) Distribution of octahedral shear strain (γ); (B) prediction of tissue formation based on the mechanical stimulus (S). The left and right columns show the repair outcome with matched and slow degradation speed at day 125. The yellow, orange, and green borders indicate the neighboring healthy tissues of cancellous bone, subchondral bone, and cartilage, respectively. The dash-dot and solid black lines highlight the axis of symmetry and the articular surface, respectively; (C) Volume fraction (as percentage of the total defect volume) and stiffness of the scaffold during degradation with different speeds. The red cross marks the predicted mechanical failure of the scaffold. Lines and symbols refer to volume fraction and stiffness, respectively.