Fig. 2

Fabrication and characterization of BSP-based cryogels. a Fabrication of hydrogels and cryogels with different concentrations b Schematic depiction of cryogels preparation. c Confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy (CLSM) analysis of BA2–BA8 cryogels [varying concentration of the precursor solution: 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, (w/v)%], average pore diameters and the pore size distributions. Scale bars: 100 μm, 50 μm, 20 μm, 20 μm. d Rheological analysis of BA2–BA8 cryogels. Storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G′′) of BA2–BA8 cryogels on strain sweep measured at 1 Hz of frequency (left), frequency sweep measured at 0.2 % of strain (right). e Interconnected porosity (n = 3) and f swelling ratio (n = 3) of BA2–BA8 cryogels. Statistical analysis: Error bars represent standard error (n = 3). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001