Figure 1

Gelation process of the hydrogel. The graph depicts the gelation process of the hydrogel separated into two phases, the gelation and the curing phase. The two gel components were mixed and injected onto the bottom plate of the rheometer using a dual-chamber applicator syringe. After adjusting the upper plate, the measurement started approximately 30 sec after gel mixture. The experimental conditions of the gel formation were: temperature 37°C, shear strain 0.05%, shear stress 1 Pa, oscillation frequency 1 Hz. Storage modulus G', representing the elastic component of the gel, and loss modulus G", representing the viscous component of the gel, were calculated every third second. The gelation is completed after approximately 2-3 minutes; thereafter the visco-elastic properties of the hydrogel are constant.