title: Gels as functional nanomaterials for biology and medicine.
abstract: This perspective focuses on the potential uses of gels as materials in biological and medical applications. It describes how molecular self-assembly can confer well-defined secondary structures (e.g., nanofibers, nanotubes, and nanospheres) in a liquid that initiates functions within biological systems. Some prospects for future development and the challenges for achieving them are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, USA. bxu@brandeis.edu
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000178:Acrylamides / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D000178:Acrylamides; D002241:Carbohydrates; D005782:Gels; D010455:Peptides; D011108:Polymers; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; C067295:N-isopropylacrylamide