Fig. 4: Evaluation of swelling, degradability, biocompatibility, and sealing performance.

a Swelling of LIMB in PBS. b Remaining hydrogel weight over time when the hydrogels are exposed to PBS and PBS with enzymes (collagenase and lysozyme). c LIVE/DEAD assay of cells in control and LIMB. Control: cell culture on a standard 96-well plate. d Schematic and histological images showing the implants and the nearby tissues after 3-, 7-, and 28-day post-implantation. LIMBs used here were 2M-LIMB with 25% of the volume infused with adhesive functional liquid. e Biodistribution of degraded products from LIMB in major organs over a 28-day period. FITC-labeled LIMBs were used to show fluorescence. f Average fluorescent intensity over time from biodistribution. e Schematic showing burst pressure measurement. f Burst pressure of LIMB with and without infused liquid. LIMB without infused liquid does not exhibit a noticeable sealing function while LIMB with infused liquid resists the flow to pass through at reasonable burst pressure. g Burst pressure of 25%-hydrated LIMB with and without a stiff backing. Values in a–c, f, h, i represent the mean ± s.d. (n = 4 for a–c, h; n = 2 biologically independent animals for e, f; n = 5 for No infused liquid and 6 for With infused liquid in i; The experiment was repeated four times independently with similar results for d). Statistical significance and P values were determined by two-sided t-test.