TY - JOUR
T1 - Synergetic functional properties of two-component single amino acid-based hydrogels
AU - Fichman, Galit
AU - Guterman, Tom
AU - Adler-Abramovich, Lihi
AU - Gazit, Ehud
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Royal Society of Chemistry.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - The formation of hydrogels by low molecular weight building blocks results in important supramolecular assemblies for technological applications. N-modified amino acids are especially interesting components for the organization of such structures due to their high association efficiency, inherent biocompatibility, and structural diversity. Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-modified tyrosine (Fmoc-Tyr) has been extensively studied as a notably simple yet highly efficient hydrogelator. Here, we present the ability to use a combination of Fmoc-Tyr and catechol-containing Fmoc-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Fmoc-DOPA) to form a functional two-component hydrogel which combines the physical characteristics of the Fmoc-Tyr hydrogels and the functionality of the catechol groups. We demonstrate that a combination of the two building blocks results in the rapid formation of three-dimensional self-supporting gels. Rheological analysis indicated that the observed hybrid gel has a very high storage modulus, of the same order of magnitude as that of the Fmoc-Tyr gel. In addition to the envisioned mechanical properties, the combined gel also displayed a clear silver ion reduction activity. Taken together, we illustrate the ability to utilize two-component gels to achieve synergetic properties, combining rigidity and functionality.
AB - The formation of hydrogels by low molecular weight building blocks results in important supramolecular assemblies for technological applications. N-modified amino acids are especially interesting components for the organization of such structures due to their high association efficiency, inherent biocompatibility, and structural diversity. Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-modified tyrosine (Fmoc-Tyr) has been extensively studied as a notably simple yet highly efficient hydrogelator. Here, we present the ability to use a combination of Fmoc-Tyr and catechol-containing Fmoc-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Fmoc-DOPA) to form a functional two-component hydrogel which combines the physical characteristics of the Fmoc-Tyr hydrogels and the functionality of the catechol groups. We demonstrate that a combination of the two building blocks results in the rapid formation of three-dimensional self-supporting gels. Rheological analysis indicated that the observed hybrid gel has a very high storage modulus, of the same order of magnitude as that of the Fmoc-Tyr gel. In addition to the envisioned mechanical properties, the combined gel also displayed a clear silver ion reduction activity. Taken together, we illustrate the ability to utilize two-component gels to achieve synergetic properties, combining rigidity and functionality.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84945281984&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1039/c5ce01051a
DO - 10.1039/c5ce01051a
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AN - SCOPUS:84945281984
SN - 1466-8033
VL - 17
SP - 8105
EP - 8112
JO - CrystEngComm
JF - CrystEngComm
IS - 42
ER -