Primary surface measurement reported
Water contact angle (hydrogel wettability) was measured on GelMA and GelTA hydrogels prepared with and without EV incorporation.
Client Citation Analysis
Combinational regenerative inductive effect of bio-adhesive hybrid hydrogels conjugated with hiPSC-derived myofibers and its derived EVs for volumetric muscle regeneration
This study develops bio-adhesive hybrid hydrogels for volumetric muscle regeneration and uses water contact angle to characterize hydrogel surface wettability.
At-a-Glance Summary
Dropometer attribution in the paper
The Dropometer is cited as a “Droplet Lab Tensiometer (Droplet Lab, Ontario, Canada)” used to inject 16 μl water droplets for contact angle measurement, with contact angles after 1 s analyzed by ImageJ software.
How the surface-tension / contact-angle data were used in the study
Contact angle was used to describe hydrogel hydrophilicity and to compare wettability between GelTA and GelTA‑EVs hydrogels. The text also references contact angle comparisons for GelMA and GelMA‑EVs in supplementary figures.
Replication / reliability statement
Contact angle in Fig. 5M was quantified by ImageJ (n = 3).
Paper Details
Title
Combinational regenerative inductive effect of bio-adhesive hybrid hydrogels conjugated with hiPSC-derived myofibers and its derived EVs for volumetric muscle regeneration
Authors
Jiseong Kim; Myung Chul Lee; Jieun Jeon; et al.; Indranil Sinha; Su Ryon Shin
Journal
Bioactive Materials
Year
2025
Volume
43
Pages / Article
579–602
License
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Journal context
What it is
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How to read it
Compare metrics within category; updates are annual and lag current-year publications.
Scopus metrics (Elsevier / Scopus rating 2024)
CiteScore 2024
36.2
CiteScore subject ranks (CiteScore 2024)
- Q1 - Materials Science, Biomaterials (3/140)
- Q1 - Engineering, Biomedical Engineering (5/323)
- Q1 - Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Biotechnology (4/314)
SNIP 2024
2.833
SJR 2024
4.075
Journal Impact Factor (Clarivate JCR)
Journal Impact Factor (JCR 2025)
20.3
- Q1 - Materials Science, Biomaterials (2/55)
- Q1 - Engineering, Biomedical (3/124)
What Was Measured
Primary surface / interfacial measurement
Water contact angle was measured after 1 s following deposition of a 16 μl water droplet on the hydrogel surface to characterize wettability.
Supporting measurements
Hydrogel microstructure and surface/topography context was reported using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) outputs presented alongside contact angle within the hydrogel characterization set.
Role of the Dropometer
In the contact angle assay, hydrogels (GelMA or GelTA, prepared with or without EVs) were formed on glass using a 500 μm high and 10 mm diameter PDMS mold, swelled in DPBS for 3 h, and then dried with Kimwipes. A constant-volume water droplet (16 μl) was injected onto the gel surface using a Droplet Lab Tensiometer (Droplet Lab, Ontario, Canada), and the contact angle after 1 s was analyzed using ImageJ software.
These contact angle measurements were used to compare hydrogel wettability across formulations (including GelTA vs GelTA‑EVs) as part of the study’s hydrogel surface characterization.
Key Findings
Hydrophilic wettability range reported for GelTA-based hydrogels
GelTA and GelTA‑EVs hydrogels are described as having good hydrophilicity, with a contact angle around 50–70°, which the authors link to maximizing cell adhesion.
GelTA and GelTA‑EVs showed similar contact angle
In Fig. 5M, GelTA and GelTA‑EVs hydrogels displayed similar contact angle, quantified by ImageJ (n = 3).
GelMA and GelMA‑EVs contact angle comparison was referenced in supplementary figures
The text describes GelMA‑EVs as showing similar contact angle compared with pristine GelMA hydrogel and points to Figs. S6K and S6L.
Figures & Visuals
Figure 5M — GelTA vs GelTA‑EVs wettability comparison
What it shows
Shows GelTA and GelTA‑EVs hydrogels with similar contact angle, quantified by ImageJ (n = 3).
Figures S6K–S6L — GelMA vs GelMA‑EVs wettability comparison
What it shows
Referenced in the text for contact angle comparison between GelMA‑EVs and pristine GelMA hydrogels.
Why It Matters
Within the hydrogel characterization workflow in this study, the contact angle assay provides a direct wettability readout used to describe surface hydrophilicity and to compare formulations with and without EV incorporation. The authors explicitly connect the reported contact angle range to cell adhesion considerations while presenting contact angle as part of the broader surface/structure characterization set for these biomaterial scaffolds.
Practical Takeaways
Use fixed droplet volume and a defined timepoint
The assay uses 16 μl water droplets and evaluates contact angle after 1 s, with angle analysis performed in ImageJ.
Standardize hydrogel pre-conditioning before wetting tests
Hydrogels are swelled in DPBS for 3 h and then dried carefully with Kimwipes prior to droplet deposition.
Document casting and mounting geometry for surface measurements
Hydrogels are formed using a 500 μm high and 10 mm diameter PDMS mold and fixed on glass by placing a glass slide on top during preparation.
Use contact angle to compare EV-loaded vs pristine hydrogels
The study reports contact angle comparisons for GelTA vs GelTA‑EVs (Fig. 5M) and references GelMA vs GelMA‑EVs comparisons in supplementary figures.
Report replication when presenting contact angle comparisons
The contact angle result in Fig. 5M is reported with n = 3.