Fig. 2: Preparation and in vitro assessment of GMs.

A Storage modulus of hydrogels prepared from different concentrations of Phe-CS (wt%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 5%) in the presence of 50 μM of CB[8]. 5% of Phe-CS without addition of CB[8] served as the control group. B Frequency sweep experiments on the rheology of hydrogel prepared from 2% (wt%) of Phe-CS and 50 μM of CB[8]. C Morphology of hydrogel under SEM. Scale bar: 200 μm. Insert: amplified SEM image. Scale bar: 40 μm. D Morphology of GMs under microscopy. MAs in PBS treated with a freeze-thaw cycle served as the control group. Scale bar: 50 μm. Insert: Confocal fluorescence image of membrane dye (DiI) stained GMs, with intracellular hydrogel obtained from CB[8] and FITC conjugated Phe-CS. Scale bar: 10 μm. E SEM image of GMs. Scale bar: 10 μm. F Zeta potential of MAs and GMs. G Drug release behaviours of DS loaded GMs at different drug loading efficiencies (5%, 10%, and 15%). H Scatter plots of MAs and GMs determined by flow cytometry. I Fluorescence image of PI stained GMs. J Cell viability of MAs without any treatment, MAs treated with 1% (wt%) of Phe and 50 μM of CB[8], respectively, and GMs, measured at 24 h and 48 h. K The ratio of proinflammatory polarization (CD86⁺, CD40⁺ and CD80⁺ cells) was detected in MAs and GMs after treatment with TNF-α for 12 h by flow cytometry. L NO production was analyzed by NO assay kit. All data was presented as mean ± s.d. (n = 3). Representative photos in (C–E) came from three independent experiments on three different samples (n = 3). All statistical analyses were conducted using One-Way ANOVA.