Combining Piezoelectric Stimulation and Extracellular Vesicles for Cartilage Regeneration

Figure 3

Synergistic effect between piezoelectric stimulation and EVs together enhances the regeneration of cartilage: (a) pathological staining (bar = 50 µm), immunohistochemistry (bar = 50 µm; black arrows: the tidal line), and CT scan (bar = 3 mm) results in different groups; (b) relative expression levels of COL2A1 mRNA in different groups (, ; , ); (c) relative expression levels of MMP13 mRNA in different groups (, ); (d) nanoindentation experiments: load-depth curves; (e) nanoindentation experiment: Young’s modulus of the ACD group, PLLA/DS-EVs group, and Sham group (, ; , ); (f) nanoindentation experiment: hardness of ACD group, the PLLA/DS-EVs group, and the Sham group (ACD group vs. PLLA/DS-EVs group:, ; ACD group vs. Sham group: , ; PLLA/DS-EVs group vs. Sham group: , ).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)