Hybrid polymer and low molecular weight gels – dynamic two-component soft materials with both responsive and robust nanoscale networks

Cornwell, Daniel J.; Okesola, Babatunde O.; Smith, David K.

doi:10.1039/c3sm51967h

Cited by 94 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…72 We chose these gels based on their orthogonal methods of preparation -slow pH change from basic to acidic for DBS-CO 2 H, and thermal cycling for agarose. This allowed us to address each gelator individually.…”

Section: Hybrid Hydrogelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Expanding the scope of gels – combining polymers with low-molecular-weight gelators to yield modified self-assembling smart materials with high-tech applications

2015

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Combining low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) with polymers is a broad yet relatively recent field, in a phase of rapid expansion and with huge potential for exploitation. This review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art and reflects on new technologies that might be unlocked. We divide LMWG-polymer systems into five categories: (i) polymerisation of self-assembled LMWG fibres, (ii) capture of LMWG fibres in a polymer matrix, (iii) addition of non-gelling polymer solutions to LMWGs, (iv) systems with directed interactions between polymers and LMWGs, and (v) hybrid gels containing both LMWGs and polymer gels (PGs). Polymers can have significant impacts on the nanoscale morphology and materials performance of LMWGs, and conversely LMWGs can have a major effect on the rheological properties of polymers. By combining different types of gelation system, it is possible to harness the advantages of both LMWGs and PGs, whilst avoiding their drawbacks. Combining LMWG and polymer technologies enhances materials performance which is useful in traditional applications, but it may also yield major steps forward in high-tech areas including environmental remediation, drug delivery, microfluidics and tissue engineering.

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Section: Hybrid Hydrogelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The above examples all required either a heat-cool cycle 67,68,70,72 or a small volume of organic solvent 69 for preparation of one or both of the gelator networks. These processes are not really suitable for encapsulating cells or biomacromolecules -a key issue if these materials are to be used in biomedical applications.…”

Section: Hybrid Hydrogelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expanding the scope of gels – combining polymers with low-molecular-weight gelators to yield modified self-assembling smart materials with high-tech applications

2015

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“…2C-DBS was observed to have a lower ability to self-assemble compared with the other two isomers. As mentioned in the introduction, the assembly of DBS molecules into a gel network involves hydrogen bonding between HO groups of adjacent sugar residues and p-p interactions between phenyl rings of adjacent gelator molecules [4,29,30]. Although the presence of COOH groups in the gelator structure increases the solubility in the solvents used, the rheological data demonstrate that their presence leads to the formation of weaker gels.…”

Section: Rheological Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ability of DBS, a typical gelator derived from a sugar, to self-assemble in various organic solvents and form fibrillar networks was revealed in numerous studies [27,28]. Other studies reported the formation of hybrid gel networks based on assemblies of DBS derivatives and polymers such as agarose [29] or polyethylene glycole [28], aiming to obtain new materials with enhanced mechanical or integrity properties.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…DBS has a butterfly shape and can aggregate because of the intermolecular hydrogen bond network formed between C6-OH groups from the sugar fragment with an acetal oxygen on a neighbouring DBS molecule. The p-p interactions between phenyl rings of adjacent molecules contribute in DBS selforganisation [4,29,30]. Intuitively, other functionalities attached to the DBS backbone may play a role in generating supramolecular assemblies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigations on Carboxy Dibenzylidene Sorbitol Hydrogels Using EPR Spectroscopy

et al. 2015

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Low-molecular-weight organic gelators generate physical gels by the formation of three-dimensional fibrous network structures as a response to various physicochemical stimuli such as heat, light, ultrasound and chemical environments. Dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS) represents a typical compound able to generate gels because of some prerequisite structural features: the presence of functional groups to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds and of aromatic groups to be involved in p-p interactions, or chirality. Herein, we present the synthesis of three derivatives of DBS-bearing carboxy groups attached to phenyl rings and the corresponding spin-labelled compounds. We studied the formation of physical gels resulting from self-assembly of DBS derivatives with the aim of highlighting the influence of the position of the carboxy group on the gel properties. These types of compounds can form gels in polar solvents (such as water, DMSO) by either temperature treatment or variation of the pH. In this study, the systems were investigated by rheological measurements, SEM analysis and EPR measurements. The results showed that the introduction of carboxy groups into the structure of DBS generates weaker gels compared with the parent gelator, DBS. The spin probes used in this study (spinlabelled DBS derivatives and 5-doxyl stearic acid) demonstrated that assembly of gelator molecules is a highly selective process. The two-component feature of EPR

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Combining Carbon Materials and Ionic Liquid Gels to Boost Simultaneous Removal of Emerging Pollutants from Wastewaters

Marullo,

D'Anna

2024

Advanced Sustainable Systems

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Water bodies contamination is a pressing issue of modern society, exacerbated by the large structural variety of contaminants. This explains the interest toward developing systems able to remove from wastewater different contaminants, with different susceptibility to removal methods. Consequently, herein hybrid ionic liquid gels, based on 1,3:2,4‐dibenzylidene‐D‐sorbitol (DBS), doped with graphite, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and graphene oxide, are described. First, the gel–sol transition temperatures (Tgel), rheological and self‐healing properties are determined. These gels are then used as sorbent materials and, for the first time, for removing mixtures of pollutants of different classes, namely the dyes rhodamine B and methyl orange, the drugs diclofenac and carbamazepine, or the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A, to simulate real wastewaters. Interestingly, hybrid gels prove efficient in removing single and mixed pollutants. The best performing gel is reusable for at least 12 consecutive cycles, without any intermediate washing. It can also be embedded in adsorption columns or dialysis membranes, to treat larger volumes of wastewater. Here, this gel achieves an adsorption capacity of 117 and 66 mg g−1 for rhodamine B and bisphenol A in mixture, with a distinct preference toward cationic contaminants, exhibiting competitive performance with most systems previously reported.

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Hybrid polymer and low molecular weight gels – dynamic two-component soft materials with both responsive and robust nanoscale networks

Cited by 94 publications

References 72 publications

Expanding the scope of gels – combining polymers with low-molecular-weight gelators to yield modified self-assembling smart materials with high-tech applications

Expanding the scope of gels – combining polymers with low-molecular-weight gelators to yield modified self-assembling smart materials with high-tech applications

Investigations on Carboxy Dibenzylidene Sorbitol Hydrogels Using EPR Spectroscopy

Combining Carbon Materials and Ionic Liquid Gels to Boost Simultaneous Removal of Emerging Pollutants from Wastewaters

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