Figure 4.

A. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images of (a) XLS suspension whose concentration is 2 wt % and Si-HPMC/XLS composite hydrogels prepared using protocol B with the contents of XLS being (b) 0.5 wt %, (c) 1 wt %, and (d) 2 wt %, respectively. Laponite particles are stained by auramine o and appear in red, provide the local concentration is high enough. Images are thus revealing the aggregation of Laponite. CLSM image of Si-HPMC/XLS (1 wt %) composite hydrogel prepared using protocol A is shown in (e). B: CLSM images of different systems with fluorescent microspheres (green dots) taken from movies (supplementary data) are shown in (f–h). XLS appears red and fluorescent microspheres appear green under CLSM. (f) Physiological saline solution; (g) XLS suspension in physiological saline; and (h) HPMC/XLS composite hydrogel. The images of HPMC, Si-HPMC are similar to that of (f); the image of XLS suspension without ionic strength is similar to that of (g); and, the image of Si-HPMC/XLS composite hydrogel is similar to that of (h) (data no shown). All of the images were taken after samples were prepared for 2 h.