Figure 9.

bPEI‐AuNPs function as drug carriers and allow release of drugs from 3D hydrogels. a) Schematic illustration of loading nanoparticles with drugs and subsequent drug release. b) Quantitative rheometric analysis of mechanical properties of hydrogels over time during the gelation process and quantitative post‐gelation rheometric analysis of hydrogels as a function of angular frequency (n = 3, data regarding collagen and bPEI‐AuNP‐collagen is the same as Figure 3 and are provided for comparison purposes). c) Representative graphs of quantitative analyses of drug release from different hydrogels. Measurements were performed based on UV–vis absorption of samples of medium in which hydrogels were incubated (n = 3). Inserted bar graphs show the statistical analysis of the end point release of drugs (n = 3). Data are mean ± SD and compared based on a two‐tailed t‐test.