Fig. 6.

Mechanical characterization of the composite scaffolds; (A) light microscopy images of the GEL, GEL/1%dbPTs, GEL/3%dbPTs and GEL/5%dbPTs scaffolds prepared for the mechanical test (from left to right, scale bars:1 ​mm), (B) compressive stress and (C) Stress-relaxation time defined as the time after which 75% of the initial stress (upon 15% initial displacement) dissipated stress-relaxation time and (D) Young's modulus of the GEL/dbPTs scaffolds. The measurements were performed using six scaffold replicates (n ​= ​6, mean ​± ​SD). ∗p ​< ​0.05 indicates statistical differences of means in comparison to 3D-printed pristine GEL and GEL/5%dbPTs scaffolds by one-way ANOVA test.