Comparative Analysis of Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells and Their Secretome for Auricular Cartilage Regeneration

Figure 2

Gross auricular cartilage findings. (a) Four weeks after ADSC injection, the defects were filled with soft pinkish tissue. The defects of the secretome (b) and PBS (c) groups remained evident. The defect size decreased significantly in the ADSC compared to the secretome or the PBS group at 4 (d) and 8 weeks (H) after ADSC injection. (e) In ADSC-treated ears, the defects were completely healed by 8 weeks; the tissue surface was smooth and of similar color to that of the surrounding tissue. The secretome (f) and PBS (g) groups exhibited minimal defect repair. ^,†,‡,§. ADSCs: adipose-derived stromal cells; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline.

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