2.5.3 Swelling kinetics study
The swelling behavior of the control SA/Gel as well as the fabricated A-SA-Gel hydrogel samples was analyzed by immersing the samples in Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 culture medium and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4 at 37 °C for 3 h. The swelling percent (%) was calculated according to the following equation:
Swelling (%) = [(Wt – Wo)/ Wo ] × 100%
For which, the samples were dried at 37 °C and the dry weight (Wo ) of the same was captured. Then, the samples were immersed in culture medium and PBS. The swollen weight (Wt ) of the samples was measured every 15 min after removing excess solution from the surface of the samples with lint-free filter paper, until no further change in weight. All samples were analyzed in triplicate.