Figure 4

Cell-scaffold interactions on PCL scaffolds. BMSCs were cultured for 4 weeks in vitro. A, cell proliferation of BMSCs on PCL scaffolds with or without coatings as indicated. Cell proliferation were determined via MTT assays. Viability of cells were normalized to the viability on PCL scaffolds only. B, alkaline phosphates (ALP) activity after 4 weeks of BMSC culturing. Data were normalized to the ALP activity on PCL scaffolds only. Data indicate the mean relative values calculated from six independent experiments (±S.E.). Statistically significant differences with P < 0.05 were considered significant (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001). C, representative BMSC image before culturing on PCL scaffolds with HAp and 30 mg/ml collagen coating. Scale bar, 10 μm. D, representative cell image after culturing on PCL scaffolds with HAp and 30 mg/ml collagen coating. The cells have differentiated into osteoblastic cells and were stained with ALP staining kit. SEM micrographs of PCL scaffolds after coating and 4 weeks of culturing. Scale bar, 10 μm. E, PCL scaffolds only. F, PCL scaffolds with HAp and 30 mg/ml collagen coating.