Fig. 6
Estimated collagen and noncollagen ECM protein production normalized by cell number (×104) in the five groups at 10 and 14 days of cultivation. The formula for ECM protein calculation was adopted from Gascon-Barre et al. [21]. After normalization for cell number, group 5 (two-step) statistically produced the most collagen and noncollagen ECM, except when compared to group 2 (TGF-β1) (which was statistically insignificant). a Estimated collagen amount (μg) normalized for cell number (×104) at 10 and 14 days of cultivation. b Estimated noncollagen amount (mg) normalized for cell number (×104) at 10 and 14 days of cultivation. FGF fibroblast growth factor, GF growth factor, TGF transforming growth factor