Fluorescent Hydrogel Based on Self-assembling Acridonylalanine-phenylalanine

Abstract

A new dipeptide with an acridone chromophore, namely 2-acridonylalanine-phenylalanine (AAP) was synthesized, and a fluorescent hydrogel was produced under physiological pH conditions by the AAP self-assembly process. The hydrogel exhibited a blue emission and reasonable thermoresponsiveness. Therefore, dipeptides containing an acridone side chain of the first residue were found to be effective hydrogelators.