Issue 25, 2018

Robust multi-responsive supramolecular hydrogel based on a mono-component host–guest gelator

Abstract

Supramolecular hydrogels have been widely investigated, but the construction of stimuli-responsive mono-component host–guest hydrogels remains a challenge in that it is still hard to balance the solubility and gelation ability of the gelator. In this work, three azobenzene-modified β-cyclodextrin derivatives with different alkyl lengths (β-CD-Azo-Cn) have been synthesized. The length of the alkyl chain dramatically influences the solubility and gelation ability of β-CD derivatives in water. Among these derivatives, β-CD-Azo-C8 possesses the lowest minimum gelation concentration (MGC). Based on the host–guest interaction between β-CD and azobenzene units in aqueous solution, which is confirmed by UV-visible and ROESY NMR spectra, the gelators self-assemble and further interwine into networks through the hydrogen bonds on the surface of β-CD cavities. Hydrogels formed by mono-component gelators can collapse under external stimuli such as heating, competition guests and hosts, and UV irradiation. When the concentration of the gelator is more than 8 wt%, the hydrogel exhibits good self-supporting ability with a storage modulus higher than 104 Pa. The gel–sol transition temperature of the hydrogel is near body temperature, indicating its potential applications in biological materials.

Graphical abstract: Robust multi-responsive supramolecular hydrogel based on a mono-component host–guest gelator

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Mar 2018
Accepted
11 May 2018
First published
11 May 2018

Soft Matter, 2018,14, 5213-5221

Robust multi-responsive supramolecular hydrogel based on a mono-component host–guest gelator

W. Cheng, D. Zhao, Y. Qiu, H. Hu, H. Wang, Q. Wang, Y. Liao, H. Peng and X. Xie, Soft Matter, 2018, 14, 5213 DOI: 10.1039/C8SM00639C

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