15502-m-pleumeekers

implantation and seeding of MNC/NCs on instantaneous modulus for the three conditions, F ( 2 , 23 ) = 16.10, p <0.0001, ω = 0.73. Post hoc comparisons using the Tukey HSD test indicated that the mean Ein for the MNC/NC condition (0.76 ± 0.19 MPa) was significantly higher than the non-implanted (0.42 ± 0.15 MPa) and cell-free conditions (0.32 ± 0.10 MPa) at the p <0.05 level. The cell-free implanted condition did not significantly differ from the non-implanted condition. (Figure 5D) Moreover, a Kruskal–Wallis test was conducted to compare the effect of implantation and seeding of MNC/NCs on relaxation kinetics (i.e. t 1/2 ) and intrinsic properties (i.e. Eeq and σ max ) of the constructs at 8 weeks post-implantation. The median t 1/2 values of the constructs were significantly affected by the implantation and seeding of MNC/NCs, H (2) = 17.46, p <0.001. However, Eeq and σ max were not significantly affected by the tested conditions, H (2) = 4.19, p = 0.12 and H (2) = 1.12, p = 0.57, respectively. Post hoc comparisons using the Mann– Whitney tests indicated that the median t 1/2 for the MNC/NC condition was significantly higher than the non-implanted ( U = 3, p <0.001, r = -0.74) and cell-free conditions ( U = 48, p <0.01, r = -0.66). No significant differences in t 1/2 were detected between the cell-free and non- implanted conditions. A 2.4- and 3.4-fold higher Ein and t 1/2 , respectively, were observed in the MNC/NC-seeded constructs compared to the cell-free group. Likewise, a 1.8- and 3.6-fold higher Ein and t 1/2 , respectively, was observed in the MNC/NC-seeded constructs compared to the non-implanted group. (Figure 5D) 165 NOVEL BILAYER BNC: AN ECM-INSPIRED SCAFFOLD 8