Fig. 1: Mechanical and self-healing properties of the Ag-SH-PEG hydrogels.

a Measure of viscosity parameters in relation to time in seconds. Strain shearing rate alternated between 0.1% strain for 50 s and 1000% strain for 100 s. b Strain sweep measurements of the storage moduli (G′ for elastic modulus and G′′ for loss modulus), measured in Pa, on the strain of the hydrogels (%) to determine the tensile strength. c Images of a hydrogel sample cut in half exhibiting the self-healing property, taken at 0, 1, 10, and 15 min. d SD rats with full-thickness wounds (diameters 15 mm with error within 1 mm), followed by injection of the hydrogels. The hydrogels retained their shapes despite being cut, squeezed, stretched, and twisted