Fig. 1

Morphology and characterization of the gels. A, B Photograph of DEX-Gel after water bath heating and cooling. C Photograph of extrusion of injectable Hydrogel by syringe needle Φ = 1.0 mm. D Photographs of DEX-Gel sticking vertically to the petri dish. E SEM results of DEX-Gel. Scale bars = 100 µm (top) and 35 µm (bottom). F Degeneration test of nine prescription gels in vitro. G Strain sweep measurements of the storage modulus (G′ denotes the elastic modulus, and G′′ denotes the loss modulus). The frequency was 1 Hz. H Frequency sweep measurements of the storage modulus. The strain was 1%. I Strain sweep measurements of the viscosity parameters. The frequency was 1 Hz. J Shear rate sweep measurements of the viscosity parameters. The frequency was 1 Hz. K, L Measure of storage modulus in relation to time in seconds. The strain shearing rate alternated between 1% strain for 600 s and 100% strain for 120 s. M Degeneration test of Gel and DEX-Gel in vitro. N Drug release of DEX-Gel ang Free-DEX in vitro