Wang G., Nie X., Cheuk S., Williams K.
University of New Orleans, US
Keywords: carbohydrate, hydrogelator, organogelator, polydiacetylene, self-assembly
Biocompatible functional small molecule hydrogelators such as carbohydrates and amino acids derivatives have potential applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering and as biocompatible materials. Polydiacetylenes exhibit a unique blue to red color transition in the presence of heat, pH change and binding to biological agents. We have designed and synthesized a series of monoacetylene and diacetylene containing sugar lipids with different chain lengths, substituents, and positions of acetylenes and studied their self-assembling properties in several solvents including hexane, ethanol and ethanol/water mixture. Many of the glycolipids synthesized exhibited excellent gelation properties in ethanol or ethanol/water mixture. The resulting organogels can also be crosslinked and give different colored polymerized gels. The positions of the acetylenes and chain lengths affect the self assembling properties significantly. The detail structure and property relationship will be discussed. The systematic study of the chain length to gelation properties can help us to understand the structure requirement for the desired physical properties. Scanning electron and optical microscopies studies showed that the molecules form interesting architectures such as fibers, tubules, rods, sheets, and belts. These novel functional hydrogelators are useful in forming matrix for macromolecule encapsulation and separation, as sensors and for drug delivery.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Technical Proceedings of the 2006 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 2
Published: May 7, 2006
Pages: 766 - 767
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Personal & Home Care, Food & Agriculture
Topics: Advanced Materials for Engineering Applications, Composite Materials
ISBN: 0-9767985-7-3