Issue 15, 2016

Linking micellar structures to hydrogelation for salt-triggered dipeptide gelators

Abstract

Some functionalised dipeptides can form hydrogels when salts are added to solutions at high pH. We have used surface tension, conductivity, rheology, optical, confocal and scanning electron microscopy, 1H NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements to characterise fully the phase behaviour of solutions of one specific gelator, 2NapFF, at 25 °C at pH 10.5. We show that this specific naphthalene–dipeptide undergoes structural transformations as the concentration is increased, initially forming spherical micelles, then worm-like micelles, followed by association of these worm-like micelles. On addition of a calcium salt, gels are generally formed as long as worm-like micelles are initially present in solution, although there are structural re-organisations that occur at lower concentrations, allowing gelation at lower than expected concentration. Using IR and SANS, we show the differences between the structures present in the solution and hydrogel phases.

Graphical abstract: Linking micellar structures to hydrogelation for salt-triggered dipeptide gelators

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Dec 2015
Accepted
03 Mar 2016
First published
04 Mar 2016
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Soft Matter, 2016,12, 3612-3621

Author version available

Linking micellar structures to hydrogelation for salt-triggered dipeptide gelators

A. Z. Cardoso, L. L. E. Mears, B. N. Cattoz, P. C. Griffiths, R. Schweins and D. J. Adams, Soft Matter, 2016, 12, 3612 DOI: 10.1039/C5SM03072B

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