Figure 2.

(a) The storage and loss modulus increase as the concentration of PVA increases from 2.5 to 12.5 wt % (n = 3). (b) The storage and loss modulus increase as the concentration of Na₂B₄O₇ increases from 0.05 to 0.20 mmol (n = 3). (c) The strain amplitude sweeps of the hydrogel. The hydrogel formula is 10 wt% PVA, 0.20 mmol Na₂B₄O₇, 0.4 mmol TEOS and 0.1 mmol AgNPs. (d) Step strain measurements of the hydrogel with a fixed frequency of 1 rad/s. (e) The macroscopic observation of self-healing property. (f) The equilibrium swelling ratio was tested by recording the change in wet weight during incubation under phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4). (g) The in vitro degradation rate was measured by measuring the change in dry mass of the hydrogel. The hydrogel formula is 10 wt% PVA, 0.20 mmol Na₂B₄O₇, 0.4 mmol TEOS and 0.1 mmol AgNPs.