Issue 47, 2016

Supramolecular hydrogelation with bile acid derivatives: structures, properties and applications

Abstract

Hydrogelation of small molecules in aqueous solutions results from a balance between solubilization and precipitation (or crystallization). The hydrophobic moieties of amphiphiles tend to aggregate and the hydrophilic units may stabilize the aggregates in aqueous solutions. Morphologies vary according to the chemical structure of the amphiphiles. The formation of nanofibers or worm-like micelles is a prerequisite for hydrogels. Molecular hydrogels often show better degradability and functional diversity than polymeric hydrogels and may be useful in biomedical applications. Bile acids have attracted increasing attention for designing various biomaterials, including molecular hydrogels. They are naturally occurring amphiphilic compounds that exist in our body and help with the dissolution and digestion of fat by the formation of micelles. This review highlights the recent progress in the field of molecular hydrogelators based on bile acids, including bile salts, anionic, cationic and neutral bile acid derivatives, two-component hydrogelation systems, and polymeric supramolecular hydrogels, along with their potential applications.

Graphical abstract: Supramolecular hydrogelation with bile acid derivatives: structures, properties and applications

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
03 Sep 2016
Accepted
18 Oct 2016
First published
18 Oct 2016

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2016,4, 7506-7520

Supramolecular hydrogelation with bile acid derivatives: structures, properties and applications

M. Zhang, S. Strandman, K. C. Waldron and X. X. Zhu, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2016, 4, 7506 DOI: 10.1039/C6TB02270G

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