Fig. 8: The cell-free ultra-dynamic hydrogel substantially enhances the in situ regeneration of hyaline cartilage and subchondral bone in swine osteochondral defects. | Nature Communications

Fig. 8: The cell-free ultra-dynamic hydrogel substantially enhances the in situ regeneration of hyaline cartilage and subchondral bone in swine osteochondral defects.

From: Recapitulating hypoxic metabolism in cartilaginous organoids via adaptive cell-matrix interactions enhances histone lactylation and cartilage regeneration

Fig. 8: The cell-free ultra-dynamic hydrogel substantially enhances the in situ regeneration of hyaline cartilage and subchondral bone in swine osteochondral defects.

a Schematic illustration of the implantation of free-dried acellular hydrogel sponges in swine osteochondral defects. b Macroscopic views of the top and longitudinal section of articular cartilage defects treated with acellular HA-TP and HA-CA hydrogels at 8 weeks after implantation. Scale bar: Top view, 5 mm; Sagittal section view, 2 mm. c SEM images of the saggital sections of articular cartilage defects treated with acellular HA-TP and HA-CA hydrogels at 8 weeks after implantation. Scale bar: second column, 1 mm; third column, 50 µm; fourth column, 10 µm. d Safranin O and Alcian Blue staining (scale bar = 1 mm) and immunohistochemical staining (Aggrecan, scale bar = 100 µm) images of articular cartilage defects treated with HA-TP and HA-CA hydrogels and PBS at 8 weeks after implantation, and healthy cartilage tissue. e Images of immunofluorescence staining against H3K18la (scale bar = 50 µm) for articular cartilage defects at 8 weeks after treatment with HA-TP and HA-CA hydrogels. f Images of immunohistochemical staining (Sox9 and COMP, scale bar = 50 µm) of articular cartilage defects treated with HA-TP, HA-CA hydrogels, and PBS, as well as healthy cartilage tissue. Scale bar: 50 µm. Some components of (a) were created in BioRender. boguang, y. (2025) https://BioRender.com/ b24y218.

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