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Structural determinants in a library of low molecular weight gelators

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 00:13 authored by Kyle L Morris, Lin Chen, Alison Rodger, Dave J Adams, Louise SerpellLouise Serpell
Low molecular weight hydrogels are formed by molecules that form a matrix that immobilises water to form a self-supporting gel. Such gels have uses as biomaterials such as molecular scaffolds and structures for tissue engineering. One class of low molecular weight gelator (LMWG), naphthalene-conjugated dipeptides, has been shown to form hydrogels via self-assembly following a controlled drop in pH. A library of naphthalene-dipeptides has been generated previously although the relationship between the precursor sequence and the resulting self-assembled structures remained unclear. Here, we have investigated the structural details of a set of dipeptide sequences containing alanine (A) and valine (V) conjugated to naphthalene groups substituted with a Br, CN or H at the 6-position. Electron microscopy, circular dichroism and X-ray fibre diffraction shows that these LMWG may be structurally classified by their composition: the molecular packing is determined by the class of conjugate, whilst the chirality of the self-assemblies can be attributed to the dipeptide sequence. This provides insights into the relationship between the precursor sequence and the macromolecular and molecular structures of the fibres that make up the resulting hydrogels.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Soft Matter

ISSN

1744-683X

Publisher

Royal Society of Chemistry

Issue

6

Volume

11

Page range

1174-1181

Department affiliated with

  • Biochemistry Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-02-05

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-02-04

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