Fig. 1

In vitro wrapping and heterotopic implanted bioceramic pouch model methodology (a-h). The three-dimensional printed macro-porous β-tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite (β-TCP/HA) bioceramic devices (a), for the wrapping or pouch models, were placed in growth medium (DMEM), prior to either wrapping them in rat skeletal rectus abdominis muscle tissue (b-d), or implanting them first in heterotopic extra-skeletal rectus abdominis muscle sites (e-h) of euthanized rats. The implant sites with devices were then harvested, devices embedded in the muscle tissue excised, and subsequently placed in growth medium to be cultured for 5, 15 and 30 days in vitro. (All images within Fig. 1 originate from our own laboratory. Images were not taken from other sources)