title: Responsive nematic gels from the self-assembly of aqueous nanofibres.
abstract: Aqueous nanofibres constructed by the self-assembly of small amphiphilic molecules can become entangled to form hydrogels that have a variety of applications including tissue engineering, and controlled drug delivery. The hydrogels are formed through the random physical cross-linkings of flexible nanofibres. Here we report that self-assembled nanofibres with a nematic substructure are aligned into a nematic liquid crystal and are spontaneously fixed in the aligned state to give rise to anisotropic gels. The liquid-crystal gels respond to temperature by transforming into a fluid solution upon cooling. Thus, the nanofibre solution can be mixed with cells at room temperature and then can be transformed into gels to encapsulate the cells in a three-dimensional environment upon being heated to physiological temperatures. We found that the cells grow within the three-dimensional networks without compromising the cell viability, and that subsequent cooling triggers the encapsulated cells to be released through a sol-gel transition.
authors: Center for Bio-Responsive Assembly, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea.
authors: Zhegang
authors: Z
authors: Huang
authors: Hyojin
authors: H
authors: Lee
authors: Eunji
authors: E
authors: Lee
authors: Seong-Kyun
authors: SK
authors: Kang
authors: Jwa-Min
authors: JM
authors: Nam
authors: Myongsoo
authors: M
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005782:Gels; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D057139:Nanofibers; D012212:Rheology; D013696:Temperature; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D005782:Gels