Free-standing supramolecular hydrogel objects by reaction-diffusion

Matija Lovrak, Wouter E. J. Hendriksen, Chandan Maity, Serhii Mytnyk, Volkert van Steijn, Rienk Eelkema () and Jan H. van Esch ()
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Matija Lovrak: Delft University of Technology
Wouter E. J. Hendriksen: Delft University of Technology
Chandan Maity: Delft University of Technology
Serhii Mytnyk: Delft University of Technology
Volkert van Steijn: Delft University of Technology
Rienk Eelkema: Delft University of Technology
Jan H. van Esch: Delft University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Self-assembly provides access to a variety of molecular materials, yet spatial control over structure formation remains difficult to achieve. Here we show how reaction–diffusion (RD) can be coupled to a molecular self-assembly process to generate macroscopic free-standing objects with control over shape, size, and functionality. In RD, two or more reactants diffuse from different positions to give rise to spatially defined structures on reaction. We demonstrate that RD can be used to locally control formation and self-assembly of hydrazone molecular gelators from their non-assembling precursors, leading to soft, free-standing hydrogel objects with sizes ranging from several hundred micrometres up to centimeters. Different chemical functionalities and gradients can easily be integrated in the hydrogel objects by using different reactants. Our methodology, together with the vast range of organic reactions and self-assembling building blocks, provides a general approach towards the programmed fabrication of soft microscale objects with controlled functionality and shape.

Date: 2017
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms15317

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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15317

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