Polymeric Hydrogelator-Based Molecular Gels Containing Polyaniline/Phosphoric Acid Systems

To expand the range of applications of hydrogels, researchers are interested in developing novel molecular hydrogel materials that have affinities for the living body and the ability to mediate electrical signals. In this study, a simple mixing method for creating a novel composite molecular gel is employed, which combines a hydrophilic conductive polymer, a polyaniline/phosphoric acid complex, and a polymer hydrogelator as a matrix. The composite hydrogel showed an improved gel-forming ability; more effective mechanical properties, with an increased strain value at the sol-gel transition point compared to the single system, which may be sufficient for paintable gel; and a better electrochemical response, due to the electrically conducting polyaniline component. These findings demonstrate the applicability of the new composite hydrogels to new potential paintable electrode materials.

Rapidly Recoverable Thixotropic Hydrogels from the Racemate of Chiral OFm Monosubstituted Cyclo(Glu-Glu) Derivatives

Both chiral OFm monosubstituted cyclo(l-Glu-l-Glu) and cyclo(d-Glu-d-Glu) display a robust gelation ability in a variety of organic solvents and water. In contrast to an individual enantiomer, their racemate can form rapidly recoverable thixotropic hydrogels with a remarkably shorter thixotropic recovery time. This unexpected thixotropic behavior is induced by the random arrangement of d- and l-enantiomers in the cell units, leading to the formation of "pseudoracemate", noncrystalline self-assemblies in the resulting 3D fibrous network.

New composite thixotropic hydrogel composed of a polymer hydrogelator and a nanosheet

A composite gel composed of a water-soluble aromatic polyamide hydrogelator and the nanosheet Laponite®, a synthetic layered silicate, was produced and found to exhibit thixotropic behaviour. Whereas the composite gel contains the gelator at the same concentration as the molecular gel made by the gelator only, the composite gel becomes a softer thixotropic gel compared to the molecular gel made by the gelator only. The reason for this could be that bundles of polymer gelator may be loosened and the density of the polymer network increased in the presence of Laponite.

Synthesis of an electronically conductive hydrogel from a hydrogelator and a conducting polymer

A polymer hydrogelator mixed with a water-soluble electronically conductive polymer exhibits thixotropy due to the hydrogelator although each component at low concentrations does not exhibit this behaviour.

Thixotropic stiff hydrogels from a new class of oleoyl-d-glucamine-based low-molecular-weight gelators

A series of tripartite compounds comprising oleoyl, amino acid and d-glucamine moieties form stiff molecular hydrogels with strong thixotropic properties.

Low-Molecular-Weight Gelators as Base Materials for Ointments

Ointments have been widely used as an efficient means of transdermal drug application for centuries. In order to create ointments suitable for various new medicinal drugs, the creation of ointment base materials, such as gels, has attracted much research attention in this decade. On the other hand, the chemical tuning of low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) has been increasingly studied for two decades because LMWGs can be tailored for different purposes by molecular design and modification. In this review, several series of studies related to the creation of ointment base materials with enhanced properties using existing and newly-created LMWGs are summarized.

Nanostrontium ranelate incorporated injectable hydrogel enhanced matrix production supporting chondrogenesis in vitro

An injectable strontium ranelate nanoparticle-loaded composite gel provides a required environment for chondrogenesis, supplemented with the controlled release of strontium ranelate.

Multicomponent low molecular weight gelators

We discuss the potential and challenges of multicomponent low molecular weight gels.

A new water-soluble aromatic polyamide hydrogelator with thixotropic properties

The water-soluble aromatic polyamide poly(3-sodium sulfo-p-phenylene terephthalamide) forms a hydrogel with anisotropy, which exhibits good thixotropic behaviour, even at the critical gel concentration of the gelator (1.0 wt%).

Improved mechanical properties of polyacrylamide hydrogels created in the presence of low-molecular-weight hydrogelators

It was found that the crushing stress of the obtained polyacrylamide hydrogels was enhanced by using the molecular gel as removable templates.

Long-chain alkylamide-derived oil gels: mixing induced onset of thixotropy and application in sustained drug release

Oil gels composed of long-chain alkylamides exhibited thixotropic properties, although the same property was absent in each alkylamide.

N-Alkylamido-d-glucamine-based gelators for the generation of thixotropic gels

Hydrogels made from new gelators exhibit thixotropic properties, whereas hydrogels formed with structurally similar N-alkyl-d-glucamide have a tendency to crystallize.