Fig. 4

Characterization of cell culture on aECM-coated scaffolds. Human mesenchymal stem cells were cultured on LoPo and HiPo (low and high porosity, respectively) scaffolds for a time period of up to 18 days. a Representative scanning electron microscopy pictures of hMSC on LoPo (left) and HiPo (right) scaffolds were taken after 3 days of cultivation. b Cell functionality was quantified via the expression of the early osteogenic marker alkaline phosphatase (ALP) after seven days in culture by ALP quantification and c ALP staining. d + e The amount of synthesized mineralized matrix was measured by von Kossa staining on the histologic level. c ALP staining (red = ALP expression, scale bar = 5 mm) and e staining of mineralized bone material in scaffold pores (black = mineralized matrix). Data represent the mean ± SD. Statistical analysis was performed by two-way ANOVA for the effect of LoPo and HiPo scaffolds