Hybrid hydrogels derived from renewable resources as a smart stimuli responsive soft material for drug delivery applications

The design and synthesis of amphiphilic molecules play a crucial role in fabricating smart functional materials via self-assembly. Especially, biologically significant natural molecules and their structural analogues have inspired chemists and made a major contribution to the development of advanced smart materials. In this report, a series of amphiphilic N-acyl amides were synthesized from natural precursors using a simple synthetic protocol. Interestingly, the self-assembly of amphiphiles 6a and 7a furnished a hydrogel and oleogel in vegetable oils. Morphological analysis of gels revealed the existence of a 3-dimensional fibrous network. Thermoresponsive and thixotropic behavior of these gels were evaluated using rheological analysis. A composite gel prepared by the encapsulation of curcumin in the hydrogel formed from 7a displayed a gel-sol transition in response to pH and could act as a dual channel responsive drug carrier.

Stepwise syntheses and supramolecular assemblies of a series of polyoxovanadate hybrids with various architectures

Inorganic–organic hybrids with carbon chains of different lengths at the terminus of the organic ligands exhibit supramolecular-assemblies in different dimensions.

Theoretical design of magnetic wires from acene and nanocorone derivatives

A theoretical design of molecular magnetic wires based on linear and cyclic oligoacene-bridged dicopper(ii) model complexes is highlighted in the present contribution.

Carbonyl-carbonyl interactions and amide π-stacking as the directing motifs of the supramolecular assembly of ethyl N-(2-acetylphenyl)oxalamate in a synperiplanar conformation

The title compound, C12H13NO4, is one of the few examples that exhibits a syn conformation between the amide and ester carbonyl groups of the oxalyl group. This conformation allows the engagement of the amide H atom in an intramolecular three-centred hydrogen-bonding S(6)S(5) motif. The compound is self-assembled by C=O...C=O and amide-π interactions into stacked columns along the b-axis direction. The concurrence of both interactions seems to be responsible for stabilizing the observed syn conformation between the carbonyl groups. The second dimension, along the a-axis direction, is developed by soft C-H...O hydrogen bonding. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory were performed to support the experimental findings.