Effect of Uniaxial Tensile Cyclic Loading Regimes on Matrix Organization and Tenogenic Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Encapsulated within 3D Collagen Scaffolds

Figure 1

Effect of uniaxial tensile loading on ASC viability and proliferation within 3D collagen scaffolds. (a) Confocal images of ASC-seeded collagen constructs subjected to 7 days of uniaxial loading at 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% strains and 0.1 Hz and 1 Hz frequencies. Green represents live cells and dead cells are stained red. Scale bar represents 100 μm. Cells are viable within the loaded collagen scaffolds. (b) Quantification of cell number within scaffolds by estimating the DNA content. Red dotted line indicates the initial cell number in each sample. represents the statistical difference from the other groups. Cells subjected to mechanical stimulation remain viable but show limited proliferation when compared to control samples.

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