Architecture of a biocompatible supramolecular material by supersaturation-driven fabrication of its fiber network.
The architecture of a biocompatible organogel formed by gelation of a small molecule organic gelator, N-lauroyl-L-glutamic acid di-n-butylamide, in isostearyl alcohol was investigated based on a supersaturation-driven crystallographic mismatch branching mechanism. By controlling the supersaturation of the system, the correlation length that determines the mesh size of the fiber network was finely tuned and the rheological properties of the gel were engineered. This approach is of considerable significance for many gel-based applications, such as controlled release of drugs that requires precise control of the mesh size. A direct cryo-transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging technique capable of preserving the network structure was used to visualize its nanostructure.
Li
Jing-Liang
JL
Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117542.
Liu
Xiang-Yang
XY
Wang
Rong-Yao
RY
Xiong
Jun-Ying
JY
D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D003460:Crystallization; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry*; D005782:Gels; D005971:Glutamates / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D044367:Phase Transition
D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D005782:Gels; D005971:Glutamates; C507105:N-lauroyl-L-glutamic acid di-n-butylamide; C026199:isostearyl alcohol