Time-dependent gel to gel transformation of a peptide based supramolecular gelator

Abhishek Baral, Shibaji Basak, Kingshuk Basu, Ashkan Dehsorkhi, Ian W. Hamley, Arindam Banerjee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

A dipeptide with a long fatty acid chain at its N-terminus gives hydrogels in phosphate buffer in the pH range 7.0-8.5. The hydrogel with a gelator concentration of 0.45% (w/v) at pH 7.46 (physiological pH) provides a very good platform to study dynamic changes within a supramolecular framework as it exhibits remarkable change in its appearance with time. Interestingly, the first formed transparent hydrogel gradually transforms into a turbid gel within 2 days. These two forms of the hydrogel have been thoroughly investigated by using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), field emission scanning electron microscopic (FE-SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopic (HR-TEM) imaging, FT-IR and rheometric analyses. The SAXS and low angle PXRD studies substantiate different packing arrangements for the gelator molecules for these two different gel states (the freshly prepared and the aged hydrogel). Moreover, rheological studies of these two gels reveal that the aged gel is stiffer than the freshly prepared gel.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4944-4951
Number of pages8
JournalSoft Matter
Volume11
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - 28 Jun 2015
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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