Construct gross morphological images and properties.

<p>White scale bar in lower right corner of gross morphology images is equal to 5 mm. Geometric properties, construct wet weight, hydration, cell number, and Collagen II/Collagen I ratio are shown in tablature form and illustrate the large effect on these properties by chemical stimulation. For group labeling, the letter following the C denotes if chemical stimulation was applied (N = no, Y = yes) and the character following the D denotes the time window of mechanical stimulation application (N = none, 1 = days 10–14, 2 = days 17–21). All data are presented as mean ± s.d. Statistically significant differences are present between values that do not share a common letter for a particular metric.</p

Construct division for histological, biochemical, ELISA, and biomechanical assessments.

<p>For biochemical, ELISA, and compressive testing 2 mm punches were removed from the construct. Tensile specimens were prepared by fashioning dumbbell shaped portions of the construct in the appropriate direction for circumferential and radial testing. After obtaining the above specimens, a sufficient portion was available for histological assessment.</p

Phase II construct properties.

<p>Col., total collagen</p

Tension-compression stimulator and platens.

<p>(Upper) Stimulation apparatus with relevant components labeled. (Lower) Rapid prototyped stimulation platens with upper platen possessing a curved surface to mate with the upper surface of meniscal constructs.</p

Biomechanical and biochemical properties of self-assembled constructs in phase I, normalized to control values.

<p>HP application at 5 or 10 MPa, 0 Hz, resulted in a significantly higher (a) aggregate modulus, (b) Young's modulus, (c) GAG/WW and (d) collagen/WW than control. Columns and error bars represent means and standard deviations. Groups denoted by different letters are significantly different (p<0.05).</p

Biomechanical and biochemical properties of self-assembled constructs in phase II, normalized to control values.

<p>(a) aggregate modulus, (b) Young's modulus, (c) GAG/WW and (d) collagen/WW. Combined treatment with 10 MPa static HP and TGF-β1 led to additive increases in aggregate modulus and Young's modulus, and a synergistic increase in collagen/WW. Columns and error bars represent means and standard deviations. Groups denoted by different letters are significantly different (p<0.05).</p

Phase I construct properties.

<p>Col., total collagen</p

Continuum of knee joint connective tissues.

<p>Based on their structural compositions, the major connective tissues of the knee joint can be conceptualized along a continuum from hyaline (condylar and patellar cartilage), to fibrocartilaginous (meniscus), to fibrous (ligament).</p

Histology of representative joint tissues.

<p>Picrosirius red staining for collagen showed that hyaline cartilage, meniscus, and ligament all had significant collagen content. The meniscus and ligament samples stained more intensely for collagen than hyaline cartilage. Safranin O/fast green staining for GAG showed that hyaline cartilage had significant GAG content; meniscus and ligament did not exhibit GAG staining.</p

Gross morphology and histology of chondral control neocartilage, osteochondral, and cut off neocartilage.

<p>Construct gross morphology (A), chondral control and cut off neocartilage histology (B), and osteochondral histology (C) are shown.</p