Gels

Functional π-Gelators and Their Applications

“…Supramolecular chemistry originally defined by Lehn as “chemistry beyond molecules” exploits noncovalent interactions between molecules to form 1D, 2D, and 3D architectures. − Molecular self-assembly is an offshoot of supramolecular chemistry, which originated as a laboratory curiosity among chemists. , Over the years, the study of molecular self-assembly has grown to a matured field of interdisciplinary research by which both biology and material sciences have benefited. − When molecules with certain structural features self-assemble, the resulting supramolecular architectures can immobilize a large volume of solvents leading to gelation of the solvent mass. − Such molecules can gelate both organic as well as aqueous solvents. In recent years, this area of research has been aggressively pursued by chemists and materials scientists resulting in a wide variety of soft materials. − A large number of review articles have appeared in the literature pertaining to general aspects and mechanisms of gelation, − ,− different types of gelators, − <...…”

Gels of Amyloid Fibers

“…However, the potential of GAF to kill cells by restricting the movement of fluid, ions, nutrients, waste, and biosignaling molecules is significant mainly due to the lack of convectional flow or bulk flow through or within gels. GAF formation can increase local viscosity by as much as 10 10 -fold [7,8]. Gels can be impermeable to large molecules such as proteins, and this permeability is severely attenuated for small molecules such as water or ions [9].…”