Fig. 3.

The proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of PB-MSCs in PAA-RGD, PEG-RGD, and GelMA hydrogels. (a) Cell proliferation and Live/Dead staining in 3D plots after 3, 7, and 14 days of culture live cells: green; dead cells: red). (b) Cell proliferation determined by CCK8 assay. (c–d) Immunofluorescence staining (c) and quantification (d) of COL-II expression in PB-MSCs-encapsulating hydrogels on Day 14 following chondrogenic induction; scale bar = 50 μm; (Relative fluorescence intensity was quantified using Image J software). (e) The relative mRNA expression of chondrogenic genes (COL-II, and ACAN) on Day 7 after chondrogenic induction. Data are presented as the mean ± S.D. (n ≥ 3). Statistical significance was calculated using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.