Fig. 2. HA-BP•Laponite gels are stronger than their chemically cross-linked analogs.
Frequency sweep measurements of storage and loss modulus of HA-BP•Laponite physical hydrogels and chemically (hydrazone) cross-linked HABP analogs without and with clay (a). Schematic of proposed interactions (b). Interference of the stronger, but slower forming, BP•Laponite cross-links, by weaker, faster forming hydrazone cross-links could account for the weaker gels formed with addition of Laponite to HABP chemical gels compared to HA-BP•Laponite physical hydrogels.