
Hydrogel-Based Supports: Design and Synthesis 11
FIGURE 5 Selected HVSEM micrographs showing longitudinal section of PHEMA hydrogel
3 mm thick (Run 9) obtained with (NH
4
)
2
SO
4
(100 × 600 µm) as a porogen after passing of a
suspension of 8 µm sulfonated PSt microspheres in water (in the direction of the dotted line).
(a) The whole section through the construct and selected details from (b) top, (c) centre, and (d)
bottom. The PSt microspheres are denoted with white arrows.
Mechanical properties of the porous constructs were sensitive to the concentration
of porogen in the feed. Hydrogels with lower contents of NaCl and therefore higher
proportion ...