title: Self-Assembly of a Tripodal Triszwitterion Forms a pH-Switchable Hydrogel that Can Reversibly Encapsulate Hydrophobic Guests in Water.
abstract: The development of supramolecular smart materials, which exhibit physicochemical structural changes in response to external stimuli is of current interest for various applications. Herein, we have developed the novel tripodal triszwitterion 1, derived from a C3-symmetric benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) core, which forms a thermo-reversible and pH-switchable transparent hydrogel through intermolecular self-complementary zwitterionic interactions at a neutral pH value. The hierarchical supramolecular self-aggregation was fully analyzed by microscopy (AFM, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)), viscosity, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and rheology studies. Moreover, compound 1 enables to encapsulate hydrophobic guests, such as the dye Nile red in aqueous medium at pH 6, which makes it an interesting candidate for drug delivery and controlled release.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Organic Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Poulami
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jana
authors.affiliation: Institute for Organic Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmuck
mesh_terms: D001549:Benzamides / Q000737:chemistry*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D010078:Oxazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014783:Viscosity; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010078:Oxazines; C558700:benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide; D014867:Water; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; C044808:nile red
keywords: dyes/pigments; ion pairs; nanostructures; self-assembly; supramolecular gels