Fig 1.
Schematic illustration of microspheres embedded electrospun cartilage scaffolds preparation and CAP modification.
Fig 2.
SEM analysis of various scaffolds.
Low- and high-magnification of SEM images of (A, a) unmodified control scaffold without microspheres, (B, b) unmodified scaffold with microspheres, (C, c) CAP-modified scaffolds with 1 min, (D, d) 3 min and (E, e) 5 min treatment time.
Fig 3.
SEM images of microspheres (A-B) and their size distribution (C).
Fig 4.
Contact angle comparison of scaffolds with and without CAP treatment.
Data are mean ± standard error of the mean, n = 3; *p<0.05.
Fig 5.
Proteins adsorption on scaffolds with different CAP treatment times.
Specific (A) vitronectin and (B) fibronectin adsorption on scaffolds after 0, 1 and 3 min CAP treatment by ELISA assay, data are mean ± standard error of the mean, n = 3. *p<0.05.
Fig 6.
Compressive modulus of CAP modified and unmodified (0 min) scaffolds.
Sample thickness is 0.5 mm, data are mean ± standard error of the mean, n = 3, *p<0.05.
Fig 7.
Enhanced MSC proliferation on CAP modified scaffolds after 3 and 5 days.
Data are mean ± standard error of the mean, N = 3, *p<0.05.
Fig 8.
MSC proliferation after 3, 5 and 7 days culture.
Samples include bare PCL scaffolds (as control), PCL scaffolds with directly sprayed BSA, and scaffolds with BSA-loaded microspheres, data are mean ± standard error of the mean, N = 3, *p<0.05.
Fig 9.
Confocal micrographs of MSCs spread and proliferate on various scaffolds.
At day 1 (A) and day 3 (B) cells penetrated to scaffolds with different cells infiltration distance for 1 day (a) and 3 days (b). Improved cell proliferation and infiltration were observed on scaffolds with CAP treatment and/or microspheres incorporation compared to PCL only control group. Data are mean ± standard error of the mean, N = 3, *p<0.05.
Fig 10.
GAG secretion in various scaffolds.
Enhanced GAG secretion in CAP modified microspheres incorporated scaffolds relative to controls after three weeks culture, data are mean ± standard error of the mean, N = 3, *p < 0.05, &p<0.1.
Fig 11.
Type II collagen and total collagen synthesis.
Scaffolds with CAP treated, microspheres embedded, and both CAP and microspheres modification promoted (A) type II collagen and (B) total collagen synthesis relative to bare control, data are mean ± standard error of the mean, N = 3, *p < 0.05, &p<0.1.