3.7 Degradation Analysis
The degradation data of SA/Gel and A-SA-Gel samples were obtained from the experiments conducted in RPMI 1640 culture medium at 37 °C is presented in Figure 5. To investigate further on how the degradation influences the microstructural features of the samples, the morphological analysis was carried out for the SA/Gel and A-SA-Gel samples after the degradation study conducted in RPMI 1640 culture medium for 1, 3 and 5 days. The SEM micrographs of A-SA-Gel (Figure 5 A-A2) and SA/Gel (Figure 5 B-B2) samples showed that they lose their structural integrity and the scaffolds look fluffy over time period. The degradation behavior of SA/Gel and A-SA-Gel samples in culture medium shown in Figure 5C indicated that the degree of dissolution increased over the time period during the course of study. It was also noticed that the degree of dissolution of A-SA-Gel sample was higher than that of SA/Gel sample. It can be seen from the graph that nearly 50% of the A-SA-Gel sample is solved in the first three days, and then the rate of dissolution slowed down after five days. The similar results were observed for the same samples but the experiments conducted in PBS (Figure 5D). There was a noticeable difference that the degradation of the A-SA-Gel sample in PBS was higher than in the culture medium after 5 days (Figure 5E).