Figure 3.

Characterizations of VCM-NPs/Gel. (A) Photographs of VCM-NPs/Gel aqueous solutions exhibiting sol and gel states at 20 and 37 °C, respectively. (B–D) Gelation time of hydrogel with CS/β-GP, α-GP/β-GP and VCM-NPs, respectively. (E–G) Rheological properties exhibiting viscosity (η), storage modulus (G’) and loss modulus (G”) of the aqueous solutions of the blank Gel, NPs/Gel and VCM-NPs/Gel as a function of temperature, respectively. (H) Equilibrium swelling ratio of hydrogels after swelling for 24 h in PBS (pH 7.4). (I) Degradation profiles of the hydrogels in PBS with lysozyme. (J) SEM image of VCM/Gel. (K and L) SEM image and enlarged SEM image of VCM-NPs/Gel.