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

Figure 5

Effect of uniaxial tensile loading on ECM gene expression of ASCs encapsulated within 3D collagen scaffolds. (a) Gene expression profiles of ASCs encapsulated within collagen scaffolds subjected to BMP-12 treatment or uniaxial loading at 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% strains at 0.1 Hz and 1 Hz. The graphs depict fold changes in various extracellular matrix genes: collagen I and collagen III, (b) GAGs: decorin and aggrecan. indicates significant fold increase with respect to the 0% samples. indicates , denotes , and corresponds to . † represents a significant difference between 2% and 4% groups while ‡ is the statistical difference with respect to 6% group, both with a 95% confidence interval. # represents a significant difference between 0.1 Hz and 1 Hz groups at the same magnitude of strain with . § depicts significant difference with respect to unloaded samples chemically stimulated with BMP-12 with . The mechanically stimulated samples display an increased level of ECM markers compared to the nonloaded scaffolds.

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