Tc100

The thermal properties of gelatin and GelMA suspensions, namely the gelation temperature (T_gel) and changes in gelation enthalpy (ΔH_gel), were assessed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) (DSC 1 STAR System, Mettler-Toledo, Greinfensee, Switzerland) using an intracooler TC100 (HUBER, Raleigh, NC, USA). The measurements were carried out by loading ~70 mg of each suspension (10% and 20% w/v) into a stainless-steel pan (120 µL). An empty pan was used as a reference and gas N₂ was used as purge gas. The thermal cycle included cooling from 20 to −15 °C at 3 °C/min, an isotherm step at −15 °C for 5 min, heating up to 80 °C at 10 °C/min and an isotherm step at 80 °C for 5 min. The samples were subjected to the same thermal protocol twice to erase the material’s thermal history. T_gel and ∆H were determined from cooling scans using STARe Software (DB V12.10, Mettler-Toledo, Greinfensee, Switzerland). Prior to the measurements, the temperature and enthalpy were calibrated at a heating rate of 10 °C/min using indium as standard (Tm = 156.6 °C and ΔHm = 28.55 J/g).

A differential scanning calorimeter (DSC 1 STAR System, Mettler Toledo, Greifensee, Switzerland) with an intracooler TC100 (Huber, Offenburg, Germany) was used to characterize the scaffolds. The measurements were carried out using ~10 mg of sample in a stainless-steel pan (120 µL). An empty pan was used as a reference. The thermal scanning protocol used was: cooling down from 25 to 0 °C at 40 °C/min, isothermic step at 0 °C for 5 min, and heating to 150 °C at 10 °C/min. The samples were subjected to the same thermal protocol twice. The melting temperature (T_m) and changes in the enthalpy of melting (∆H_m) were determined from the first scan. The glass transition temperature (T_g) was determined in the amorphous material (second scan). The curves were analyzed using the STARe software (DB V 12.10). Prior to the measurements, the melting temperature and enthalpy values were calibrated using indium as standard. All determinations were made in triplicate.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was carried out with a Mettler–Toledo STARe System DSC 2/700 equipped with FRS 6 ceramic sensor and cooling system HUBER TC100–MT RC 23. Thermal behavior of the target compounds was measured in open aluminous crucibles under N₂ inert atmosphere. DSC curves were determined with a scanning rate of 3–5 °C/min within the range −70–+400 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out using a Mettler–Toledo STARe System TGA 2 equipped with a horizontal furnace LF (400 W, 1100 °C), balance XP5 (resolution 1 μg) and cooling system HUBER Minichiller 600.