Preparation and Characterization of a Novel Hybrid Hydrogel Composed of Bombyx mori Fibroin and Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Figure 4

(a) Typical size distribution of SF/PNIPAAm aggregates which remained at 19.2±6.8 nm during the first 12 h after mixing of two polymers. (b) Upon gelation, the size of SF/PNIPAAm aggregates increased slightly to 33.7±15.0 nm, and the size distribution profile does not change with varied temperature. ((c)-(d)) During early stage of gelation process, SF/PNIPAAm aggregates increased in size with elevated temperature and wider size distribution profile can be observed. 78.7±99.6 for 28°C; 341.6±566.3 for 30°C.

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