Low Magnitude of Compression Enhances Biosynthesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells towards Nucleus Pulposus Cells via the TRPV4-Dependent Pathway

Figure 1

(a) Testing protocol of hybrid incubation and mechanical loading. The MSCs were encapsulated in the IPN hydrogel at day 1. The MSC-seeded hybrid was discogenesis induced and incubated for 28 days. Then, the composite hydrogel was treated with cyclic compressive loading for 7 days (5%, 10%, and 20% at the frequency of 1.0 Hz for 8 hours) and then evaluated at day 36. (b) Overview image of the bioreactor platform and primary units of the bioreactor. (c) Gross observation of the MSC-encapsulated hydrogels after compressive loading.