Figure 1

Physicochemical characterization of the hydrogels. Scanning electron microscopic images of a Zn-CS/β-GP and c Zn-CS/nHAp/β-GP; b and d are magnified images of the above, respectively. Pores greater than 150 μm in diameter were seen in both hydrogels. The presence of nHAp along the matrix of chitosan is clearly visible under high magnification. e XRD spectra of the individual components and of the hydrogels. FTIR spectra of f the individual components and of g the Zn-CS/β-GP and Zn-CS/nHAp/β-GP hydrogels.