Figure 3.

Preparation and characterization of an engineered collagen‐based hydrogel containing HA‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (HA–pNIPAM). A) Synthesis of HA–pNIPAM conjugate using the crosslinking agent DMTMM. B) Thermosensitive HA–pNIPAM solution (8% w/v) switched from a solution state at 25 °C into a hydrogel form at 37 °C. C) Schematic illustration of the preparation of collagen I hydrogel containing HA–pNIPAM (CH). D) SEM images of collagen I hydrogel (C) and CH hydrogel. E) Comparison of fiber diameter and cross‐section pore sizes between the collagen and CH (n = 10, **p < 0.01; NS, not significant). Scale bar: 5 µm.