fig3

Figure 3. Synergistic interventions based on mechanical rehabilitation coupled with biomaterial/biological therapies for joint repair. (A) Representation of the macroscopic mechanical loading regimes, applying cyclic compressive strains (e.g., 12% and 24% at 1 Hz) to mimic varying intensities of joint activities; (B) (A₁-D₁) Staining with DAPI of different groups showed that cell populations seemed to be lower in the 12% and 24% loaded groups. (E₁-H₁) Col2 immunofluorescence staining confirmed chondrogenic differentiation of most of the cells for all groups. (I₁-L₁) Col1 immunofluorescence staining showed its deposition from most of the cells in all groups suggesting that cells were differentiated into fibrochondrocytes (scale bars = 200 µm); (C) %hyaline-like cartilage and (D) %fibrocartilage-like ECM tended to be lowest and highest, respectively, in 12% loaded group. The bar graphs show median and interquartile range. n = 4 for each group, n.s. = not significant, *P < 0.05, and **P < 0.01. The figure is reprinted from Ref.^[69] with permission. ECM: Extracellular matrix; DAPI: 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole.