Figure. 1. Design and characterization of Dynamic-network hydrogels (D-hydrogels) and Non-dynamic-network hydrogels (N-hydrogels).
See also Figure S1. (a) Schematic depicting networks of D-hydrogel cross-linked by the dynamic covalent bonds of imine and acylhydrazone bonds between Gtn-ADH and Dex-CHO, and N-hydrogel cross-linked by the covalent bonds between Gtn-MA and Dex-GMA. (b) Storage moduli (G’) of D-hydrogels and N-hydrogels with different stiffness. (D-hydrogels are in red and N-hydrogels are in blue) (c) Stress relaxation curves of D-hydrogels and N-hydrogels with different stiffness. Stress is normalized to the initial stress. (d) Quantification of timescale at which the stress is relaxed to half its original value, Τ1/2, from stress relaxation tests of D-hydrogels and N-hydrogels with differing stiffness. (e) No significant change in stiffness, G’, of D-hydrogels and N-hydrogel along 3 days of incubation in endothelial growth medium-2 (EGM-2). (f) Significant increase in stress relaxation time over 3 days in culture in EGM-2 but (g) half stress relax time, Τ1/2, is maintained lower than in N-hydrogel along the 3 days culture period. Significance levels were set at n.s. p > 0.05, *p ≤ 0.05, and **p ≤ 0.01.