Molecular Gel Research Articles

Structural evolution of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene gel film stretching at different temperatures with reservation of shish crystals

Shish crystal is the key structure to achieve low-dimensional ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) products with high performance. UHMWPE gel film containing shish crystals was prepared by precise temperature control in the gel molding, and its structural evolution in the stretching flow field at different temperatures was investigated by in-situ wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD)/small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that shish crystals accelerated the structural evolution in both room and high temperature stretching, promoting more highly oriented crystals along the stretching direction. In room temperature stretching, the lamellae were deflected vertically to the stretching direction and gradually accumulated leading to a stabilization of the crystallinity index and the degree of orientation of the crystals along the stretching direction. However, in high temperature stretching, this intermediate orientation was broken and the transition to shish-kebab crystals continued, leading to a sharp increase in the crystallinity index and the degree of orientation of the crystals along the stretching direction.

The Properties of Different Starches under the Influence of Glucono-Delta-Lactone at Different Concentrations.

In this study, glucono-delta-lactone (GDL), which is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), was added to native starches to modify their physicochemical properties. The effects of GDL on the molecular weight, pasting properties, flow behavior, gel syneresis, and crystallization properties of potato, tapioca, and corn starches were investigated. GPC results showed that as the GDL concentration increased, the molecular weight of amylose increased, whereas that of amylopectin decreased. An analysis using the Rapid Visco Analyzer revealed that the addition of GDL improved the pasting properties of potato starch, with reduced peak viscosity and breakdown viscosity, and it also improved setback viscosity. On the other hand, tapioca starch degraded substantially after GDL addition, indicating a lower tendency for short-term retrogradation, as reflected in the lower setback viscosity. The effects of GDL on corn starch pasting properties were very similar to those observed for tapioca starch, but the changes were relatively subtle. In terms of flow behavior, GDL addition decreased and increased the flow index values of the potato and tapioca starch pastes, respectively. However, the effect of GDL addition on the flow index value of the corn starch paste was found to be insignificant. The results also showed that the percentage of syneresis under the influence of GDL depended on the starch botanical origin-that is, potato starch, 14-18%, tapioca starch, 10-13%, and corn starch, 17-20%-which was substantiated by crystallinity analysis. It was observed that GDL has the potential to be used for starch modification because it creates desirable functionalities with the advantage of being a green-labelled ingredient.

Molecular dynamics study of low molecular weight gel forming salt-triggered dipeptide

Molecular dynamics simulation method was used to study the aggregation of Na and Ca salts in different concentrations of Naphthalene-dipeptide (2NapFF) solutions. The results show that high-valence Ca2+ triggers the formation of a gel at a certain dipeptide concentration, and the low-valence Na+ system follows the aggregation law of general surfactants. The results also show that hydrophobic and electrostatic forces are the main driving forces for the formation of dipeptide aggregates, and that hydrogen bonds do not play a major role in the formation of dipeptide solution aggregates. Hydrophobic and electrostatic effects are the main driving forces for the formation of gels in dipeptide solutions triggered by Ca2+. Electrostatic attraction drives Ca2+ to form a weak coordination with four oxygen atoms on two carboxyl groups, which causes the dipeptide molecules to form a gel with a branched network structure.

Extraction, purification, chemical characterization and antioxidant properties in vitro of polyphenols from the brown macroalga Ascophyllum nodosum

This study aims to investigate enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) and ultrasound-assisted enzyme extraction (UAEE) using several enzymes (viscozyme or alcalase) and extraction time (1–4 h) for the extraction of polyphenols from brown macroalga Ascophyllum nodosum. The extraction yields and antioxidant activities of polyphenols were evaluated. The extracts using the most efficient extraction method were further purified by liquid-liquid partition and identified by UHPLC-hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry. Polyphenols were separated by molecular weight cut-off filtration (MWCO) or gel filtration (Sephadex LH-20). UAEE (alcalase, 3 h) achieved the highest extraction yields (1913.33 mg phloroglucinol equivalents (PGE)/100 g dry weight (DW) macroalgae). Ethyl acetate fractions purified using liquid-liquid partition achieved the highest polyphenols content (73.85 g PGE/100 g extract), and 74 % of this fraction had molecular weight >10 kDa. Less polar polyphenols, separated from the ethyl acetate fraction by gel filtration had the highest antioxidant activities. Twelve polyphenols were identified in the ethyl acetate extract. This research provides a strong support for expanding the application of polyphenols derived from A. nodosum by identifying both a suitable extraction process as well as identifying the polyphenols with antioxidant activities for their future use as nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals.

Dendritic organic molecular gel coating with molecular shape selectivity and its application in selective separation by liquid chromatography.

Dendritic organic molecular gels are a promising class of three-dimensional network compounds. Here, we have synthesized a new type of dendritic organic molecular gel stationary phase (SiO2-G3) by using benzyl alcohol as raw material and dimethyl 5-hydroxyisophthalate as growth unit to synthesize a third-generation organic molecular gel G3, which grafted onto the silica surface by cyanogen chloride (CC). The developed stationary phase not only exhibits high molecular shape selectivity but also has a RPLC/HILIC/IEC mixed-mode characteristic for HPLC due to the ordered structure, the multiple strong π-π stacking interactions and the introduction of a hydrophilic triazine fraction during the grafting process. Compared with a commercial C18 column, the developed column exhibited flexible selectivity, enhanced separation performance and excellent separation of monosubstituted benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), positional isomers, nucleosides and nucleobases, benzoic acid and aniline compounds. In addition, the new column provided baseline separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminants in Yellow River water, verifying its potential for application in the analysis of real samples.

A cutback in Imiquimod cutaneous toxicity; comparative cutaneous toxicity analysis of Imiquimod nanotransethosomal gel with 5% marketed cream on the BALB/c mice

Herein, Imiquimod (IMQ) was incorporated in nanotransethosomes (nTES) to develop the IMQ-nTES nano-drug delivery system. IMQ-nTES was optimized using 23 factorial design. The optimized formulation was expressed with a particle size of 192.4 ± 1.60 nm, Poly-dispersibility of 0.115 ± 0.008, and IMQ percent entrapment efficiency of 91.05 ± 3.22%. Smooth and round morphology of IMQ-nTES vesicles was confirmed by TEM micrographs. Moreover, FTIR results have shown drug-excipient compatibility. The IMQ-nTES was laden inside the low molecular weight chitosan gel, which exhibited easy application, spreadability and no irritation to the applied skin. The release pattern has clearly exhibited improved dissolution properties of IMQ with the provision of the sustain release pattern. Higher IMQ content was deposited in deeper epidermis and dermis with IMQ-nTES gel, in contrast to ALDARA. In vivo, comparative toxicity study on BALB/c mice has shown significantly reduced (p < 0.001) psoriatic area severity index (PASI) score and less increment in ear thickness. Epidermal hyperplasia was an obvious finding with ALDARA which was, providentially, minimal in IMQ-nTES gel-treated skin. FTIR analysis of skin tissue has shown an enhancement of lipid and protein content in the ALDARA group, however, in the IMQ-nTES group no such change was observed. With ALDARA application, CD4+ T-cells and constitutive NF-κβ expression were significantly elevated, in comparison to the IMQ-nTES gel treated group. Moreover, the adequate expression of IFN-γ and cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells were suggesting the preserved IMQ efficacy with IMQ-nTES gel. Quantification of cutaneous as well as systemic inflammatory markers has also suggested the reduced psoriatic potential of IMQ-nTES gel. In essence, IMQ-nTES gel can be a suitable alternative to ALDARA owing to its better safety profile.

Botulinum toxin injection as a single or combined treatment with non-cross-linked high molecular weight and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid gel for neck rejuvenation: A randomized clinical trial.

The unpleasant appearance of the neck through the aging process could burden the psychosocial quality of life, therefore various treatment modalities have been used to rejuvenate the neck. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of botulinum toxin injection as a single or combined treatment with Profhilo gel for neck rejuvenation. Patients with a request for neck rejuvenation meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups. Initial clinical scoring based on Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS) and skin biomechanical parameters using a multiadaptor system (MPA) were performed before starting the treatment. Dysport Botox was injected for all of the participants, moreover, in one of the groups (intervention), Profhilo gel was injected after 2 weeks and a follow-up visit was performed for both groups 3 months later. Patients were evaluated according to the GAIS (global aesthetic improvement scale) by two blind dermatologists and skin biophysical parameters were measured by MPA such as TEWL, hydration, thickness, density, visco-elasticity, net elasticity, pliability/firmness. In this study, 19 participants in the control (Dysport) and intervention (Dysport + PROFhilo gel) groups were evaluated. Before starting the treatment, the two groups were similar in terms of WSRS scores and biophysical skin parameters. Three months after the treatment, it was observed that Hydration (p< 0.001) and Thickness of the skin (p= 0.028) in the intervention group were significantly higher than in the control group. Similarly, the GAIS scores of the intervention group showed significantly better results comparing to the control group (p< 0.001). Profhilo gel following Dysport Botox can be considered as a safe and more effective treatment of neck aging comparing to Dysport Botox injection alone in patients who are not a candidate for surgery due to any reason.

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.

Fabrication of a novel polydiacetylene-based gel system through self-assembly and the stimuli-induced colorimetric responsiveness

The gel provides a wonderful platform for the study of functional polymer properties in the soft matter state. Here in this work, a novel molecular gel was readily prepared through the self-assembly of isophthalic acid substituted diacetylene derivative in mixed DMF/H2O solvents. Upon UV irradiation, conjugated polydiacetylene (PDA) in blue phase was successfully generated in the molecular gel form by 1,4-addition topopolymerization. This PDA-based molecular gel illustrated a reversible blue-purple-red chromatic transition in response to heating, thus demonstrating a good thermal stability. The incorporation of carboxyl groups into PDA provided this molecular gel the ability to make a distinction between acidic and alkaline environments. In specific, when the PDA molecular gel was exposed to acidic environment, no obvious color change could be observed. However, when it was exposed to alkaline aqueous solution or atmosphere, a clear blue-to-red colorimetric responsive behavior took place within a short time. More interestingly, ten commonly used organic solvents were tested on this molecular gel, and the blue PDA turned into red phase only in the case of triethylamine, thus suggesting a great prospect for selective recognition by naked eyes.

Aptamer-Based Cell Nucleus Imaging via Expansion Microscopy.

Expansion microscopy (ExM) is a newly developed technology in recent years that enables nanoscale imaging under conventional microscopes. Herein, we report an aptamer-based ExM imaging strategy. A nucleus-targeting aptamer Ch4-1 was chemically labeled with a dye and an acrydite at each end to perform the functions of molecular recognition, fluorescence reporting, and gel anchoring. After binding cell nucleus, the dual labeled aptamer Ac-Ch4-1-FAM directly participated in gelation and anchored in polyacrylamide gel. After expanding the gel, high-resolution imaging was achieved by confocal microscopy. Multicolor ExM imaging was also realized by combining Ac-Ch4-1-FAM, antibodies and fluorescent dyes. This aptamer-based ExM could clearly image the chromatin morphology at different mitotic stages. The expansion process is simple and the aptamer labeling is easy. The aptamer-based ExM holds great promise in super-resolution imaging of cells and tissues.

Self-assembly process of organic small molecular gel and its molecular mechanism

Gel is a very diverse system that has pervaded our everyday life in a variety of forms. However, the mechanism of gel formation remains ambiguous. To better understand the mechanism of gel formation, cefpiramide was selected as model compound to investigate gel formation from molecular level, with the help of experimental research and molecular dynamics simulations. Dynamic light scattering was used to detect the process of the formation of fiber aggregates by the molecules in the gel process. The results indicated that in the process of low molecular weight gels, the molecules coalesce to form a fibrous network structure to wrap the liquid. Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer and Raman spectroscopy were employed to explore the solute–solute and solute–solvent interactions, which indicated that the solvent molecules (formamide molecules) played a key role in the process of gel formation and the solute–solute interactions played a leading role. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to reveal the molecular mechanism of gel formation from molecular level.

A novel antibacterial and antifouling nanocomposite coated endotracheal tube to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia

BackgroundThe endotracheal tube (ETT) is an essential medical device to secure the airway patency in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation or general anesthesia. However, long-term intubation eventually leads to complete occlusion, ETTs potentiate biofilm-related infections, such as ventilator-associated pneumonia. ETTs are mainly composed of medical polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which adheres to microorganisms to form biofilms. Thus, a simple and efficient method was developed to fabricate CS-AgNPs@PAAm-Gelatin nanocomposite coating to achieve dual antibacterial and antifouling effects.ResultsThe PAAm-Gelatin (PAAm = polyacrylamide) molecular chain gel has an interpenetrating network with a good hydrophilicity and formed strong covalent bonds with PVC-ETTs, wherein silver nanoparticles were used as antibacterial agents. The CS-AgNPs@PAAm-Gelatin coating showed great resistance and antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Its antifouling ability was tested using cell, protein, and platelet adhesion assays. Additionally, both properties were comprehensively evaluated using an artificial broncho-lung model in vitro and a porcine mechanical ventilation model in vivo. These remarkable results were further confirmed that the CS-AgNPs@PAAm-Gelatin coating exhibited an excellent antibacterial capacity, an excellent stain resistance, and a good biocompatibility.ConclusionsThe CS-AgNPs@PAAm-Gelatin nanocomposite coating effectively prevents the occlusion and biofilm-related infection of PVC-ETTs by enhancing the antibacterial and antifouling properties, and so has great potential for future clinical applications.Graphical

Comparison of the Physicochemical Properties of Carboxymethyl Agar Synthesized by Microwave-Assisted and Conventional Methods.

The microwave-assisted carboxymethylation of agar to improve its physicochemical properties was investigated. Microwave power, reaction time, and temperature, ethanol concentration, and amounts of chloroacetic acid and sodium hydroxide were assessed for their effects on synthetic yield and degree of substitution (DS). All factors were positively correlated with DS within a certain range. Using optimized conditions, samples with different DS were prepared, and the physicochemical properties of unmodified and carboxymethyl agars prepared by microwave and conventional methods were compared. Carboxymethylation significantly changed the physicochemical properties of the agar, improving gel transparency and reducing dissolution temperature, gel strength, gel hardness, molecular weight, and molecular size; DS was the key factor. Specifically, higher DS values resulted in greater changes. The microwave-assisted method significantly shortened the reaction time and preserved molecular weight, gel strength, and texture hardness of the agar. Therefore, as an environmentally friendly method, microwave-assisted synthesis shows great promise for producing carboxymethyl agar.

ITRAQ-Based Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Antibacterial Mechanism of Milk-Derived Peptide BCp12 against Escherichia coli.

BCp12 is a novel casein-derived antibacterial peptide with a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect. However, its action mechanism against E. coli is unknown. In this study, the growth curve showed that BCp12 had excellent antibacterial activity against E. coli. Red (propidium iodide staining) and green (fluorescein isothiocyanate staining) fluorescence signals were detected at the edges of the E. coli cells treated with BCp12. scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that E. coli cells became rough and shrunken, and part of the cell contents leaked to form a cavity. Furthermore, the iTRAQ proteome analysis showed that 193 and 174 proteins were significantly up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively, after BCp12 treatment. Four enzymes involved in fatty acid degradation of E. coli were down-regulated, disrupting the synthesis of cell membranes. Molecular docking and gel retardation assays showed that BCp12 could bind to genes encoding four key enzymes involved in the fatty acid degradation pathway through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, thus significantly inhibiting their activities. Overall, the results indicate that BCp12 inhibits the growth of E. coli, causing metabolic disorders, thus destroying the structure of cell membranes.

Evaluation of Radiation Resistance of Polystyrene Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The scission rates of polystyrene and fluorinated polystyrene irradiated in an irradiation facility with Co-60 γ-rays were determined using molecular dynamics simulation and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) molecular weight distributions. The prediction was based on the assumption that γ-ray energy is transferred to the initial velocity of the primary knock-on atom. We employed a molecular dynamics simulation procedure to compute the changes in bond length between the connections for selected values of the absorbed dose and compared the calculated values with measurements made on the irradiated samples. The samples were exposed to four different absorbed doses of 25, 50, 75, and 100 kGy. The scission process and scission ratio were simulated with LAMMPS with ReaxFF potential for each bond, and we compared the simulation results with the experimental data especially measuring average molecular weight to evaluate the effect of fluorination on radiation enhancement.

АНТИБАКТЕРИАЛЬНАЯ АКТИВНОСТЬ ПЧЕЛИНОГО МЁДА И ЕГО ПЕПТИДНЫХ ФРАКЦИЙ

Recently, the problem of bacteriological resistance has become more and more urgent. The antibiotics used in medical practice are constantly becoming obsolete due to the acquisition of resistance by pathogenic microorganisms, therefore there is an ever-increasing need to search for new antimicrobial drugs of various nature. A promising line of research in this area is the study of the antibacterial activity of protein molecules. Over the past two decades, a lot of data has accumulated showing the wide distribution of antimicrobial peptides among almost all living organisms. This article studied the antibacterial activity of peptide fractions weighing less than 5 kDa obtained from honey of two varieties — buckwheat and mixed origin, as well as the similar activity of various solutions of the same honey samples. The following methods were sequentially applied for isolation and purification of peptide fractions: ultrafiltration — to obtain a solution containing molecules with a mass of less than 5 kDa; ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose for purification of the peptide fraction from low molecular weight impurities (carbohydrates, pigments, phenols, etc.) and gel filtration on Sephadex G-25 to desalt the obtained peptide fraction from the buffer solution. Determination of antibacterial activity was carried out using the disk diffusion method with antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enteritis obtained from patients with various bacterial infections in chronic and acute forms. In the studied samples, the concentration of peptides, carbohydrates in ketosis and hydrogen peroxide was measured. The results obtained indicate that among the studied solutions of honey, buckwheat has the highest antibacterial activity, which is associated with an increased content of hydrogen peroxide. The study of the antagonistic activity of peptide fractions against test cultures showed that low molecular weight peptides obtained from the studied honey samples do not have an antibacterial effect against the used strains of microorganisms. Apparently, this is due to the absence of low molecular weight antimicrobial peptides in the obtained fractions. Probably, antimicrobial peptides weighing less than 5 kDa are completely absent in bee honey.

Silk Hydrogel Electrostatically Functionalized with a Polycationic Antimicrobial Peptide: Molecular Interactions, Gel Properties, and Antimicrobial Activity.

Functionalization of silk fibroin hydrogel with antimicrobial activity is essential for promoting the applications of this excellent biomaterial. In this work, a simple approach based on electrostatic interaction is adopted to produce antimicrobial silk hydrogel containing an antimicrobial peptide (AMP), polymyxin B, an important last-line antibiotic to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial superbugs. The polycationic property of this peptide and the negative charge of silk fibroin lead to strong interactions between them, as demonstrated by changes in nanofibril structure, gelation kinetics, ζ-potential, fluorescence emission, and rheological properties of the gel. The hydrogels loaded with polymyxin B demonstrated antimicrobial activity against two Gram-negative bacterial strains. A combination of the results from the different characterizations suggests that the optimal molar ratio of polymyxin B to silk fibroin is 1:2.5. As most AMPs are cationic, this electrostatic approach is suitable for the straightforward functionalization of inert silk hydrogel with other AMPs.

Molecular Crowded ″Water-in-Salt″ Polymer Gel Electrolyte for an Ultra-stable Zn-Ion Battery.

Recently, the use of a gel polymer electrolyte for the development of robust, flexible, quasi-solid, ultra-stable, high-performance zinc-ion batteries (ZiBs) as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries has attracted widespread attention. However, the performance of ZiBs is limited due to the lack of suitable gel electrolytes. Herein, a ″water-in-salt″ (WiS)-based hydrophilic molecular crowded polymer gel electrolyte and binder free V2O5@MnO2 cathode are introduced to augment the durability, flexibility, safety, and electrochemical performance of ZiBs. The ″free water trapping″ capability of the WiS-based cross-linked molecular crowded polymer electrolyte provides an extended electrochemical stability window (ESW) of the device. The quasi-solid-state ZiB delivers ∼422 mAh g-1 discharge capacity and shows excellent cycling stability as high as ∼79.83% retention of the initial capacity after 5000 cycles. The durable, flexible, and ultra-stable ZiB with the polymer gel electrolyte performs well under various severe conditions where both the battery safety and energy density are of high priority. This work demonstrates a new approach and application for the development of durable, flexible, ultra-stable, quasi-solid-state ZiBs.

Characterization of codfish gelatin: A comparative study of fresh and salted skins and different extraction methods

The use of alternative sources for gelatin extraction is in demand in today's industries. Fish skins are an economical and sustainable source option. However, there is a lack of information about the preservation state of skins (fresh, frozen, salted, etc.) and how that affects the gelatin yield and properties, and therefore, compromise the final product.In this study we present a comparative analysis between different reported gelatin extraction processes for fresh and salted codfish (Gadus morhua) skins. The extracted products were characterized based on yield of extraction, amino acid composition, molecular weight distribution, rheological properties and gel strength, as well as the cell compatibility of the gelatins envisaging future biomedical applications.Results showed that extraction method affected the yield and gelatin properties within the same type of fish skin. Thus, it was found that water acidification step, demonstrated higher extraction yield, while other methods produced gelatins rich in OH-proline + proline, promoting enhanced gel strength and rheological properties. There is thus a compromise between yield and gelatin properties that industries need to understand before selecting their gelatin extraction method. Results, also showed that gelatins derived from salted skins demonstrated lower viscoelastic properties and gel strength, when compared with gelatins from fresh skins.Our research represents a unique comparative compilation of different extraction methods in cod skins differently conserved, as a tool on the quest for the sustainable valorization of fish by-products, included in a circular economy framework.

A Molecular Shape Recognitive HPLC Stationary Phase Based on a Highly Ordered Amphiphilic Glutamide Molecular Gel.

Chiral glutamide-derived lipids form self-assembled fibrous molecular gels that can be used as HPLC organic phases. In this study, HPLC separation efficiency was improved through the addition of branched amphiphilic glutamide lipids to the side chains of a terminally immobilized flexible polymer backbone. Poly(4-vinylpyridine) with a trimethoxysilyl group at one end was grafted onto the surface of porous silica particles (Sil−VP15, polymerization degree = 15), and the pyridyl side chains were quaternized with a glutamide lipid having a bromide group (BrG). Elemental analysis indicated that the total amount of the organic phase of the prepared stationary phase (Sil−VPG15) was 38.0 wt%, and the quaternization degree of the pyridyl groups was determined to be 32.5%. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis of a methanol suspension of Sil−VPG15 indicated that the G moieties formed a highly ordered structure below the phase transition temperature even on the silica surface, and the ordered G moieties exhibited a gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition. Compared with a commercially available octadecylated silica column, the Sil−VPG15 stationary phase showed high selectivity toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and particularly excellent separations were obtained for geometrical and positional isomers. Sil−VPG15 also showed highly selective separation for phenol derivatives, and bio-related molecules containing phenolic groups such as steroids were successfully separated. These separation abilities are probably due to multiple interactions between the elutes and the highly ordered functional groups, such as the pyridinium and amide groups, on the highly ordered molecular gel having self-assembling G moieties.