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

Figure 7

Effect of uniaxial tensile loading on osteogenic gene expression of ASCs within 3D collagen scaffolds. Gene expression profiles of ASCs encapsulated within collagen scaffolds subjected to BMP-12 treatment or uniaxial loading at 0% (unloaded), 2%, 4%, and 6% strains at 0.1 Hz and 1 Hz loading frequencies. The graphs depict fold changes in osteogenic markers: RUNX2 and ALP. indicates significant fold increase with respect to the 0% samples. indicates , denotes . † 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 . Samples stimulated with 4% strain at 1 Hz showed increased levels of both osteogenic markers.