2.2 Characterization of SilMA hydrogel
2.2.1 Swelling test
The swelling ratio of SilMA hydrogel is evaluated by a weighing
method.[18] Firstly, the prepared hydrogel was
weighed and recorded as M0. Then, the hydrogel was soaked in
deionized
water (dd H2O)
for
24 h at 37°C. After swelling equilibrium, the hydrogel was collected
from dd H2O and excess fluid on the surface was removed
with the filter paper, then the hydrogel was weighed again and recorded
as Mt. The swelling ratio was calculated as follows: Swelling ratio
(%)=(Mt−M0)/M0×100%. Experiments were done thrice per composition.
2.2.2 Degradability test
The prepared hydrogel was soaked in dd H2O to reach
swelling equilibrium as described above, weighed as W0. Then,
the
hydrogel was soaked in
24-well
culture plate containing 1.5 mL type II collagenase (Absin, Shanghai,
China) solution with the concentration of 0.5 mg/mL (37°C), and taken
out at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h, respectively. At
each point of time, the filter paper was used to remove the excess
liquid on the surface and the hydrogel was weighed as Wt. The
degradation ratio was calculated as follows: Degradation ratio
(%)=(W0−Wt)/W0×100%.
Remaining mass (%)=Wt/W0×100%. Same as swelling test, experiments were
done thrice per composition.