FIGURE 5.

Influence of scaffold degradation with exponential bulk degradation on osteochondral defect repair. (A) Distribution of octahedral shear strain (γ); (B) prediction of tissue formation based on the mechanical stimulus (S). All images refer to day 125. The right column shows the outcome obtained with the exponential degradation rate of porous PCL and PDLLA scaffolds (slow), while the left column refers to porous PLGA scaffolds (fast). 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. The black dashed lines mark the scaffold struts; (C) Material elastic modulus and scaffold stiffness during degradation with the fast and slow exponential degradation rate. The grey area marks the region of concomitant erosion. Lines and symbols refer to elastic modulus and stiffness, respectively.