Fig. 3

Cell viability of ADMSCs in 2D and 3D cultures at different time points. a ADMSC viability was comparable for both culture conditions up to 7 days. After this period, viability gradually decreased with time and was significantly decreased in 2D cultures when compared to 3D. b Cell viability in 3D cultures was significantly higher than 2D cultures at 14 days and 21 days. c The cell number in 2D and 3D cultures at every measured time point was counted. The cell number was significantly increased within 7 days in 2D and 3D cultures, and the population doubling time was 6 days and 4 days respectively; subsequently, the number of cells decreased rapidly, especially in 2D culture. Obviously, the cell number in 3D cultures was significantly greater than that in 2D. d Analysis of ADMSC staining showed that the number of living cells was basically in accordance with the result of cell viability. e–h Differences in adipo- and osteogenic capacity of ADMSCs in 2D and 3D cultures at 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days. Adipo- and osteogenic differentiation potential of ADMSCs were similar at 3 days and 7 days, for both culture conditions. A significant age-related decline was observed in differentiation capacities at 14 days and 21 days in 2D cultures when compared with 3D. Cells practically lost all osteogenic differentiation in 2D cultures at 21 days. Data represented as average ± SD from n = 3 experiments, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01