Fig. 7.
The in vivo bone regeneration of the 3D-printed CL scaffolds in the half-embedded rabbit femoral defects. Digital photograph (A1-F1, A2-F2) (A1-F1: vertical view, and A2 -F2: side view), 2D Micro-CT images (A3-F3) and 3D Micro-CT reconstruction images (A4-F4, A5-F5) (A4-F4: transverse view, and A5-F5: sagittal view; the green, red and white color in 3D Micro-CT images represented newly formed bone, scaffolds and primary bone, respectively) of the femoral defects after operated for 8 and 12 weeks in the three groups. The red dotted line indicated the protruded part of the implanted scaffolds, scale bars = 3, 3, 2, 3, 3 mm, respectively. (G–I) Micro-CT reconstruction analysis. The overall newly formed bone volume to the total volume (BV/TV) ratio (G), the overall new trabecular number (Tb. N) (H), and the BV/TV ratio of the protruded part (I) at 8 and 12 weeks. (n = 4, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001).