Abstract
Supramolecular smart materials can quickly elicit macroscopic changes upon external stimulation. Here we report that an azobenzene-containing cyclic dipeptide can form composite supramolecular hydrogels with alginate based on the charge complementarity, at lower loading than the critical gelation concentrations of either component. The gels can reversibly dissipate to fluids with UV light. They can also encapsulate and photorelease fluorescent cargo. Upon treatment of the gels with aqueous calcium salts, the alginate component is permanently cross-linked and the photochromic component is solubilized.
Highlights
Supramolecular smart materials can quickly elicit macroscopic changes upon external stimulation
We report that an azobenzene-containing cyclic dipeptide can form composite supramolecular hydrogels with alginate based on the charge complementarity, at lower loading than the critical gelation concentrations of either component
Our group has explored a series of low-MW supramolecular hydrogels based on the cyclic dipeptide (2,5-diketopiperazine, DKP) gelators,[11] which reversibly disassemble to uids upon exposure to UV12 or green light.[13,14]
Summary
Supramolecular smart materials can quickly elicit macroscopic changes upon external stimulation. We report that an azobenzene-containing cyclic dipeptide can form composite supramolecular hydrogels with alginate based on the charge complementarity, at lower loading than the critical gelation concentrations of either component.
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