2.4.1. Gelation Time and Syringeability

The sol-gel phase transition (gelation time) of Hyt@tgels was determined by modified test tube inversion method [36]. An aliquot (1.0 mL) of each sample was prepared in a glass tube and then placed in a low temperature digital water bath. The solution was heated at the rate of 0.5 ◦C/min and after each minute the glass vial rotated 90◦ to check the gelling of the sample. Tsol-gel was determined as the temperature at which the gel did not exhibit gravitational flow during a period of 2 min when the tube was reversed. Averages and standard deviations of each sample were determined in triplicate.

Syringeability was assayed after injection of Hyt@tgel through a syringe with a 30-gauge needle. The solutions which were easily passed from the syringe were termed as pass and the solutions which were difficult to pass were termed as fail.
