3.7 Degradation Analysis
The degradation data of SA/Gel and A-SA-Gel samples were obtained from
the experiments conducted in RPMI 1640 culture medium at 37 °C is
presented in Figure 5. To investigate further on how the degradation
influences the microstructural features of the samples, the
morphological analysis was carried out for the SA/Gel and A-SA-Gel
samples after the degradation study conducted in RPMI 1640 culture
medium for 1, 3 and 5 days. The SEM micrographs of A-SA-Gel (Figure 5
A-A2) and SA/Gel (Figure 5 B-B2) samples showed that they lose their
structural integrity and the scaffolds look fluffy over time period. The
degradation behavior of SA/Gel and A-SA-Gel samples in culture medium
shown in Figure 5C indicated that the degree of dissolution increased
over the time period during the course of study. It was also noticed
that the degree of dissolution of A-SA-Gel sample was higher than that
of SA/Gel sample. It can be seen from the graph that nearly 50% of the
A-SA-Gel sample is solved in the first three days, and then the rate of
dissolution slowed down after five days. The similar results were
observed for the same samples but the experiments conducted in PBS
(Figure 5D). There was a noticeable difference that the degradation of
the A-SA-Gel sample in PBS was higher than in the culture medium after 5
days (Figure 5E).