Synthesis and Self-Assembly Properties of Bola-amphiphilic Glycosylated Lipopeptide-Type Supramolecular Hydrogels Showing Colour Changes Along with Gel–Sol Transition

• Main Authors: Naoki Tsutsumi, Akitaka Ito, Azumi Ishigamori, Masato Ikeda, Masayuki Izumi, Rika Ochi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: self-assembly; peptide; supramolecular hydrogel; chromism
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/4/1860

Supramolecular hydrogels formed by self-assembly of low-molecular-weight amphiphiles (hydrogelators) have attracted significant attention, as smart and soft materials. However, most of the observed stimuli-responsive behaviour of these supramolecular hydrogels are limited to gel–sol transitions. In this study, we present bola-amphiphilic glycosylated lipopeptide-type supramolecular hydrogelators that exhibit reversible thermochromism along with a gel–sol transition. The bola-amphiphiles have mono-, di-, tri- or tetra-phenylalanine (F) as a short peptide moiety. We investigate and discuss the effects of the number of F residues on the gelation ability and the morphology of the self-assembled nanostructures.