Controlling Variables in Molecular Gel Science: How Can We Improve the State of the Art?

Development of Low-Molecular-Weight Gelator/Polymer Composite Materials Utilizing the Gelation and Swelling Process of Polymeric Materials

The creation of polymer composite materials by compositing fillers into polymer materials is an effective method of improving the properties of polymer materials, and the development of new fillers and their novel composite methods is expected to lead to the creation of new polymer composite materials. In this study, we develop a new filler material made of low-molecular-weight gelators by applying a gelation process that simultaneously performs the swelling (gelation) of crosslinked polymer materials and the self-assembly of low-molecular-weight gelators into low-dimensional crystals in organic solvents within polymer materials. The gelation process of crosslinking rubber-based polymers using alkylhydrazides/toluene as the low-molecular-weight gelator allowed us to composite self-assembled sheet-like crystals of alkylhydrazides as fillers in polymeric materials, as suggested by various microscopic observations, including infrared absorption measurements, small-angle X-ray diffraction measurements and thermal analysis, microscopy, and infrared absorption measurements. Furthermore, tensile tests of the composite materials demonstrated that the presence of fillers improved both the Young's modulus and the tensile strength, as well as the elongation at yield. Additionally, heat treatment was shown to facilitate filler dispersion and enhance the mechanical properties. The findings demonstrate the potential of self-assembled sheet-like crystals of low-molecular-weight gelators as novel filler materials for polymers. The study's composite method utilizing gelators via gelation proved effective.

Thermoreversible Gelation with Supramolecularly Polymerized Cross-Link Junctions

Structure and reversibility of cross-link junctions play pivotal roles in determining the nature of thermoreversible gelation and dynamic mechanical properties of the produced polymer networks. We attempt to theoretically explore new types of sol-gel transitions with mechanical sharpness by allowing cross-links to grow without upper bound. We consider thermoreversible gelation of the primary molecules R{Af} carrying the number f of low molecular weight functional groups (gelators) A. Gelators A are assumed to form supramolecular assemblies. Some examples are: telechelic polymers (f=2) carrying π-π stacking benzene derivatives at their both ends, and trifunctional star molecules (f=3) bearing multiple hydrogen-bonding gelators. The sol-gel transition of the primary molecules becomes sharper with the cooperativity parameter of the stepwise linear growth of the cross-links. There is a polymerization transition (crossover without singularity) of the junctions in the postgel region after the gel point is passed. If the gelator A tends to form supramolecular rings competitively with linear chains, there is another phase transition in the deep postgel region where the average molecular weight of the rings becomes infinite (Bose-Einstein condensation of rings). As a typical example of binary cross-links where gelators A and B form mixed junctions, we specifically consider metal-coordinated binding of ligands A by metal ions B. Two types of multi-nuclear supramolecular complexes are studied: (i) linear stacking (ladder) of the sandwich A2B units, and (ii) linear train of egg-box A4B units. To find the strategy towards experimental realization of supramolecular cross-links, the average molecular weight, the gel fraction, the average length of the cross-link junctions are numerically calculated for all of these models as functions of the functionality f, the concentration of the solute molecules, and the temperature. Potential candidates for the realization of these new types of thermoreversible gelation are discussed.

Development of Thixotropic Molecular Oleogels Comprising Alkylanilide Gelators by Using a Mixing Strategy

Molecular oleogels have the potential to be used as materials in healthcare applications. However, their design and synthesis are complex, thus requiring simple and effective methods for their preparation. This paper reports on alkylanilides that are low molecular-weight organogelators, which when appropriately mixed with different alkyl chain lengths could result in the formation of mixed molecular gels that exhibit excellent gel-forming ability and mechanical properties. In addition, the single and mixed molecular organogel systems were found to be applicable as single and mixed molecular oleogel systems capable of gelling oils such as olive oil and squalane. This has been found to be true, especially in molecular oleogel systems consisting of squalane, which is used as solvents in healthcare. The mixed squalene-molecular oleogel systems showed an increase in the critical (minimum) gelation concentration from 1.0 to 0.1 wt.% in the single system and an improvement in the thixotropic behavior recovery time. The thixotropic behavior of the molecular oleogels in the mixed system was quantitatively evaluated through dynamic viscoelasticity measurements; however, it was not observed for the single-system molecular oleogels. Scanning electron microscopy of the xerogels suggested that this behavior is related to the qualitative improvement of the network owing to the refinement of the mesh structure. These mixed molecular oleogels, composed of alkylanilides displaying such thixotropic behavior, could be used as candidates for ointment-base materials in the healthcare field.

Creation of Polymer Hydrogelator/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Composite Molecular Hydrogel Materials

Polymer hydrogels, including molecular hydrogels, are expected to become materials for healthcare and medical applications, but there is a need to create new functional molecular gels that can meet the required performance. In this paper, for creating new molecular hydrogel materials, the gel formation behavior and its rheological properties for the molecular gels composed of a polymer hydrogelator, poly(3-sodium sulfo-p-phenylene-terephthalamide) polymer (NaPPDT), and water-soluble polymer with the polar group, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in various concentrations were examined. Molecular hydrogel composites formed from simple mixtures of NaPPDT aqueous solutions (0.1 wt.%~1.0 wt.%) and PVA aqueous solutions exhibited thixotropic behavior in the relatively low concentration region (0.1 wt.%~1.0 wt.%) and spinnable gel formation in the dense concentration region (4.0 wt.%~8.0 wt.%) with 1.0 wt.% NaPPDT aq., showing a characteristic concentration dependence of mechanical behavior. In contrast, each single-component aqueous solution showed no such gel formation in the concentration range in the present experiments. No gel formation behavior was also observed when mixed with common anionic polymers other than NaPPDT. This improvement in gel-forming ability due to mixing may be due to the increased density of the gel's network structure composed of hydrogelator and PVA and rigidity owing to NaPPDT.

Gelation Time of Network-Forming Polymer Solutions with Reversible Cross-Link Junctions of Variable Multiplicity

The gelation time tg necessary for a solution of functional (associating) molecules to reach its gel point after a temperature jump, or a sudden concentration change, is theoretically calculated on the basis of the kinetic equation for the stepwise cross-linking reaction as a function of the concentration, temperature, functionality f of the molecules, and multiplicity k of the cross-link junctions. It is shown that quite generally tg can be decomposed into the product of the relaxation time tR and a thermodynamic factor Q. They are functions of a single scaled concentration x≡λ(T)ϕ, where λ(T) is the association constant and ϕ is the concentration. Therefore, the superposition principle holds with λ(T) as a shift factor of the concentration. Additionally, they all depend on the rate constants of the cross-link reaction, and hence it is possible to estimate these microscopic parameters from macroscopic measurements of tg. The thermodynamic factor Q is shown to depend on the quench depth. It generates a singularity of logarithmic divergence as the temperature (concentration) approaches the equilibrium gel point, while the relaxation time tR changes continuously across it. Gelation time tg obeys a power law tg-1∼xn in the high concentration region, whose power index n is related to the multiplicity of the cross-links. The retardation effect on the gelation time due to the reversibility of the cross-linking is explicitly calculated for some specific models of cross-linking to find the rate-controlling steps in order for the minimization of the gelation time to be easier in the gel processing. For a micellar cross-linking covering a wide range of the multiplicity, as seen in hydrophobically-modified water-soluble polymers, tR is shown to obey a formula similar to the Aniansson-Wall law.

Methionine-Derived Organogels as Lubricant Additives Enhance the Continuity of the Oil Film through Dynamic Self-Healing Assembly

(S)-2-((1-(Hexadecylamino)-4-(methylthio)-1-oxobutan-2-yl)carbamoyl)benzoic acid (HMTA) was efficiently synthesized and successfully applied as an additive to several types of blank lubricant oils. Initially, HMTA self-assembles to fibrous structures and traps blank lubricant oils to form gel lubricants. The prepared gel lubricants show thermo-reversible properties and enhanced lubricating performance by 3∼5-fold. X-ray photoelectron spectrometry of the metal surface and the quartz crystal microbalance illustrated that there are no obvious interactions between HMTA and the metal surface. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction further confirm that inter/intro-molecular H-bonding interactions are the main driving force for the self-healing of HMTA. Finally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show that the number of noncovalent H-bonding interactions fluctuates with time, and this highly dynamic H-bonding network could regulate the self-assembly process and result in the self-healing property of the HMTA organogel, which is consistent with the results of the step-strain tests. Especially, the Hirshfeld independent gradient model method at the quantum level demonstrated that C8/C9 aromatics of 500SN have strong π-π stacking interactions with the aromatic heads of HMTA and van der Waals interactions with the hydrophobic tails of HMTA, which disrupt the self-assembly behavior of the 500SN model. Therefore, the calculation studies offer a rational explanation for the superior lubricant property of the PAO10 gel as compared to that for 500SN.

Comparative Study on the Models of Thermoreversible Gelation

A critical survey on the various theoretical models of thermoreversible gelation, such as the droplet model of condensation, associated-particle model, site–bond percolation model, and adhesive hard sphere model, is presented, with a focus on the nature of the phase transition predicted by them. On the basis of the classical tree statistics of gelation, combined with a thermodynamic theory of associating polymer solutions, it is shown that, within the mean-field description, the thermoreversible gelation of polyfunctional molecules is a third-order phase transition analogous to the Bose–Einstein condensation of an ideal Bose gas. It is condensation without surface tension. The osmotic compressibility is continuous, but its derivative with respect to the concentration of the functional molecule reveals a discontinuity at the sol–gel transition point. The width of the discontinuity is directly related to the amplitude of the divergent term in the weight-average molecular weight of the cross-linked three-dimensional polymers. The solution remains homogeneous in the position space, but separates into two phases in the momentum space; particles with finite translational momentum (sol) and a network with zero translational momentum (gel) coexist in a spatially homogeneous state. Experimental methods used to detect the singularity at the sol–gel transition point are suggested.

Polymeric Hydrogelator-Based Molecular Gels Containing Polyaniline/Phosphoric Acid Systems

To expand the range of applications of hydrogels, researchers are interested in developing novel molecular hydrogel materials that have affinities for the living body and the ability to mediate electrical signals. In this study, a simple mixing method for creating a novel composite molecular gel is employed, which combines a hydrophilic conductive polymer, a polyaniline/phosphoric acid complex, and a polymer hydrogelator as a matrix. The composite hydrogel showed an improved gel-forming ability; more effective mechanical properties, with an increased strain value at the sol-gel transition point compared to the single system, which may be sufficient for paintable gel; and a better electrochemical response, due to the electrically conducting polyaniline component. These findings demonstrate the applicability of the new composite hydrogels to new potential paintable electrode materials.

Using small angle scattering to understand low molecular weight gels

The material properties of a gel are determined by the underpinning network that immobilises the solvent. When gels are formed by the self-assembly of small molecules into a so-called low molecular weight gel, the network is the result of the molecules forming one-dimensional objects such as fibres or nanotubes which entangle or otherwise cross-link to form a three-dimensional network. Characterising the one-dimensional objects and the network is difficult. Many conventional techniques rely on drying to probe the network, which often leads to artefacts. An effective tool to probe the gel in the solvated state is small angle scattering. Both small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) can be used. Here, we discuss these approaches and provide a tutorial review to describe how these approaches work, what opportunities there are and how the data treatment should be approached. We aim to show the power of this approach and provide enabling information to make them accessible to the non-specialist.

Unravelling the antimicrobial activity of peptide hydrogel systems: current and future perspectives

The use of hydrogels has garnered significant interest as biomaterial and drug delivery platforms for anti-infective applications. For decades antimicrobial peptides have been heralded as a much needed new class of antimicrobial drugs. Self-assembling peptide hydrogels with inherent antimicrobial ability have recently come to the fore. However, their fundamental antimicrobial properties, selectivity and mechanism of action are relatively undefined. This review attempts to establish a link between antimicrobial efficacy; the self-assembly process; peptide-membrane interactions and mechanical properties by studying several reported peptide systems: β-hairpin/β-loop peptides; multidomain peptides; amphiphilic surfactant-like peptides and ultrashort/low molecular weight peptides. We also explore their role in the formation of amyloid plaques and the potential for an infection etiology in diseases such as Alzheimer's. We look briefly at innovative methods of gel characterization. These may provide useful tools for future studies within this increasingly important field.

Chirality, Gelation Ability and Crystal Structure: Together or Apart? Alkyl Phenyl Ethers of Glycerol as Simple LMWGs

Chiral recognition plays an important role in the self-assembly of soft materials, in particular supramolecular organogels formed by low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs). Out of 14 pairs of the studied racemic and enantiopure samples of alkyl-substituted phenyl ethers of glycerol, only eight enantiopure diols form the stable gels in nonane. The formation of gels from solutions was studied by polarimetry, and their degradation with the formation of xerogels was studied by the PXRD method. The revealed crystalline characteristics of all studied xerogels corresponded to those for crystalline samples of the parent gelators. In addition to those previously investigated, crystalline samples of enantiopure para-n-alkylphenyl glycerol ethers [alkyl = pentyl (5), hexyl (6), heptyl (7), octyl (8), nonyl (9)] and racemic 3-(3,5-dimethylphenoxy)propane-1,2-diol (rac-14) have been examined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Among 22 samples of compounds 1–14 studied by SC-XRD, seven different types of supramolecular motifs are identified, of which only two are realized in crystals of supramolecular gelators. An attempt was made to relate the ability to gel formation with the characteristics of the supramolecular motif of a potential gelling agent, and the frequency of formation of the motif, required for gelation, with the chiral characteristics of the sample.

Luminescent Behavior of Gels and Sols Comprised of Molecular Gelators

We present a brief review of some important conceptual and practical aspects for the design and properties of molecular luminescent gelators and their gels. Topics considered include structural and dynamic aspects of the gels, including factors important to their ability to emit radiation from electronically excited states.

Self-Assembly of Nucleoside-Derived Low-Molecular-Weight Gelators: A Thermodynamics and Kinetics Study on Different Length Scales

Biocompatible materials are of paramount importance in numerous fields. Unlike chemically bridge polymer-based hydrogels, low-molecular-weight gelators can form a reversible hydrogel as their structures rely on noncovalent interaction. Although many applications with this type of hydrogel can be envisioned, we still lack their understanding due to the complexity of their self-assembly process and the difficulty in predicting their behaviors (transition temperature, gelation kinetics, the impact of solvent, etc.). In this study, we extend the investigations of a series of nucleoside-derived gelators, which only differ by subtle chemical modifications. Using a multitechnique approach, we determined their thermodynamic and kinetic features on various scale (molecular to macro) in different conditions. Monitored at the supramolecular level by circular dichroism as well as macroscopic scales by rheology and turbidimetry, we found out that the sol-gel and gel-sol transitions are greatly dependent on the concentration and on the mechanisms that are probed. Self-assembly kinetics depends on hydrogel molecules and is modulated by temperature and solvent. This fundamental study provides insight on the impact of some parameters on the gelation process, such as concentration, cooling rate, and the nature of the solvent.

PAINT-ing Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-Diphenylalanine Hydrogels

Self-assembly of fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-protected diphenylalanine (FmocFF) in water is widely known to produce hydrogels. Typically, confocal microscopy is used to visualize such hydrogels under wet conditions, that is, without freezing or drying. However, key aspects of hydrogels like fiber diameter, network morphology and mesh size are sub-diffraction limited features and cannot be visualized effectively using this approach. In this work, we show that it is possible to image FmocFF hydrogels by Points Accumulation for Imaging in Nanoscale Topography (PAINT) in native conditions and without direct gel labelling. We demonstrate that the fiber network can be visualized with improved resolution (≈50 nm) both in 2D and 3D. Quantitative information is extracted such as mesh size and fiber diameter. This method can complement the existing characterization tools for hydrogels and provide useful information supporting the design of new materials.

The electrochemical fabrication of hydrogels: a short review

Electrochemical hydrogel fabrication is the process of preparing hydrogels directly on to an electrode surface. There are a variety of methods to fabricate hydrogels, which are specific to the type of gelator and the desired properties of the hydrogel. A range of analytical methods that can track this gelation and characterise the final properties are discussed in this short review.

The effect of vicinal di-halo substituents on the organogelling properties of aromatic supramolecular gelators and their application as soft templates

Vicinal di-halo substituents have a determinant effect on the supramolecular self-assembly and properties of aromatic physical gelators with application as soft templates.

On the Mechanical Properties of N-Functionalised Dipeptide Gels

The properties of a hydrogel are controlled by the underlying network that immobilizes the solvent. For gels formed by the self-assembly of a small molecule, it is common to show the primary fibres that entangle to form the network by microscopy, but it is difficult to access information about the network. One approach to understand the network is to examine the effect of the concentration on the rheological properties, such that G'∝ cx, where G' is the storage modulus and c is the concentration. A number of reports link the exponent x to a specific type of network. Here, we discuss a small library of gels formed using functionalized dipeptides, and describe the underlying networks of these gels, using microscopy, small angle scattering and rheology. We show that apparently different networks can give very similar values of x.

Controlling the Assembly and Properties of Low-Molecular-Weight Hydrogelators

Low-molecular-weight gels are formed by the self-assembly of small molecules into fibrous networks that can immobilize a significant amount of solvent. Here, we focus on our work with a specific class of gelator, the functionalized dipeptide. We discuss the current state of the art in the area, focusing on how these materials can be controlled. We also highlight interesting and unusual observations and unanswered questions in the field.

Functional Supramolecular Gels Based on the Hierarchical Assembly of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines

Supramolecular gels containing porphyrins and phthalocyanines motifs are attracting increased interests in a wide range of research areas. Based on the supramolecular gels systems, porphyrin or phthalocyanines can form assemblies with plentiful nanostructures, dynamic, and stimuli-responsive properties. And these π-conjugated molecular building blocks also afford supramolecular gels with many new features, depending on their photochemical and electrochemical characteristics. As one of the most characteristic models, the supramolecular chirality of these soft matters was investigated. Notably, the application of supramolecular gels containing porphyrins and phthalocyanines has been developed in the field of catalysis, molecular sensing, biological imaging, drug delivery and photodynamic therapy. And some photoelectric devices were also fabricated depending on the gelation of porphyrins or phthalocyanines. This paper presents an overview of the progress achieved in this issue along with some perspectives for further advances.

Single-Molecule Study of Peptide Gel Dynamics Reveals States of Prestress

De novo peptide surfactant (I₃K) gels provide an ideal system to study the complex dynamics of lightly cross-linked semiflexible fibers because of their large contour lengths, simple chemistry, and slow dynamics. We used single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to record individual fibers and Fourier decomposition of the fiber dynamics to separate thermal contributions to the persistence length from compressive states of prestress (SPS). Our results show that SPS in the network depend strongly on peptide concentration, buffer, and pH and that the fibril energies in SPS follow a Lévy distribution. The presence of SPS in the network imply that collective states of self-stress are also present. Therefore, semiflexible polymer gels need to be considered as complex load-bearing structures and the mean field models for polymer gel elasticity and dynamics often applied to them will not be fully representative of the behavior at the nanoscale. We quantify the impact of cross-links on reptation tube dynamics, which provides a second population of tube fluctuations in addition to those expected for uncross-linked entangled solutions.

Carbohydrate Derived Organogelators and the Corresponding Functional Gels Developed in Recent Time

Owing to their multifarious applicability, studies of molecular and supramolecular gelators and their corresponding gels have gained momentum, particularly in the last two decades. Hydrophobic⁻hydrophilic balance, different solvent parameters, gelator⁻gelator and gelator⁻solvent interactions, including different noncovalent intermolecular interactive forces like H-bonding, ionic interactions, π⁻π interactions, van der Waals interactions, etc., cause the supramolecular gel assembly of micro and nano scales with different types of morphologies, depending on the gelator, solvent, and condition of gelation. These gel structures can be utilized for making template inorganic superstructures for potential application in separation, generation of nanocomposite materials, and other applications like self-healing, controlled drug encapsulation, release and delivery, as structuring agents, oil-spill recovery, for preparation of semi-conducting fabrics, and in many other fields. Sugars, being easily available, inexpensive, and nontoxic natural resources with multi functionality and well-defined chirality are attractive starting materials for the preparation of sugar-based gelators. This review will focus on compilation of sugar derived organogelators and the corresponding gels, along with the potential applications that have been developed and published recently between January 2015 and March 2018.