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Drying Affects the Fiber Network in Low Molecular Weight Hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: Low molecular weight gels are formed by the self-assembly of a suitable small molecule gelator into a three-dimensional network of fibrous structures. The gel properties are determined by the fiber structures, the number and type of cross-links and the distribution of the fibers and cross-links in space. Probing these structures and cross-links is difficult. Many reports rely on microscopy of dried gels (xerogels), where the solvent is removed prior to imaging. The assumption is made that this has little effect on the structures, but it is not clear that this assumption is always (or ever) valid. Here, we use small angle neutron scattering (SANS) to probe low molecular weight hydrogels formed by the self-assembly of dipeptides. We compare scattering data for wet and dried gels, as well as following the drying process. We show that the assumption that drying does not affect the network is not always correct.

SUBMITTER: Mears LLE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5686561 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Drying Affects the Fiber Network in Low Molecular Weight Hydrogels.

Mears Laura L E LLE Draper Emily R ER Castilla Ana M AM Su Hao H Zhuola Dietrich Bart B Nolan Michael C MC Smith Gregory N GN Doutch James J Rogers Sarah S Akhtar Riaz R Cui Honggang H Adams Dave J DJ

Biomacromolecules 20170703 11

Low molecular weight gels are formed by the self-assembly of a suitable small molecule gelator into a three-dimensional network of fibrous structures. The gel properties are determined by the fiber structures, the number and type of cross-links and the distribution of the fibers and cross-links in space. Probing these structures and cross-links is difficult. Many reports rely on microscopy of dried gels (xerogels), where the solvent is removed prior to imaging. The assumption is made that this h ...[more]

PMID: 28631478

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Dataset Information

Drying Affects the Fiber Network in Low Molecular Weight Hydrogels.

Publications

Drying Affects the Fiber Network in Low Molecular Weight Hydrogels.

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