Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Oriented PLGA/ACECM Composite Scaffolds Enhance Structure-Specific Regeneration of Hyaline Cartilage in a Rabbit Model

Figure 6

Magnified images of repaired cartilage stained with toluidine blue, safranin O, and immunohistochemical stained for collagen type II at 12 (a–f) and 24 (g–l) weeks postimplantation. The MSC-loaded scaffold group (d–f) exhibited stronger cartilage-specific matrix staining and a more aligned structure than did the scaffold-alone group (a–c) at 12 weeks postimplantation. The cell-loaded scaffold group (j–l) and the scaffold-alone group (g–i) exhibited aligned regeneration at 24 weeks postimplantation, but staining was more intense in the former group than in the latter group. (m–p) Aligned deep-level regeneration of the MSC-loaded scaffold group at 24 weeks postsurgery. (q–s) The IODs per stained area for collagen type II immunoreactivity, and toluidine blue and safranin O staining, at 12 and 24 weeks postimplantation (bars: 10 μm). .