1H-NMR spectra (D2O, 25 °C) of native CT (top), PhS (middle) and partially-degraded oligomers (bottom) formed following hydrolysis (5 M HCl, 60 °C) of hydrogel CT(2.2%)-PhS. Signals related to PhS- (Ha, Hb) and CT- (H1) based species were clearly identified in oligomers spectra, so that the PhS content in resulting hydrogels was successfully quantified (~ 18 mol.-%).