Urea-urease reaction in controlling properties of supramolecular hydrogels: pros and cons

Panja, S. and Adams, D. J. (2021) Urea-urease reaction in controlling properties of supramolecular hydrogels: pros and cons. Chemistry: A European Journal, 27(35), pp. 8928-8939. (doi: 10.1002/chem.202100490) (PMID:33861488)

Abstract

Supramolecular hydrogels are useful in many areas such as cell culturing, catalysis, sensing, tissue engineering, drug delivery, environmental remediation and optoelectronics. The gels need specific properties for each application. The properties arise from a fibrous network that forms the matrix. A common method to prepare hydrogels is to use a pH change. Most methods result in a sudden pH jump and often lead to gels that are hard to reproduce and control. The urease‐urea reaction can be used to control hydrogel properties by a uniform and controlled pH increase as well as to set up pH cycles. The reaction involves hydrolysis of urea by urease and production of ammonia which increases the pH. The rate of ammonia production can be controlled which can be used to prepare gels with differing properties. Here we show how the urease‐urea reaction can be used for the construction of next generation functional materials.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Adams, Dave and Panja, Dr Santanu
• Authors: Panja, S., and Adams, D. J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Chemistry: A European Journal
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0947-6539
• ISSN (Online): 1521-3765
• Published Online: 16 April 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Chemistry: A European Journal 27(35): 8928-8939
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
303747		Digital-Chemical-Robotics for Translation of Code to Molecules and Complex Chemical Systems	Leroy Cronin	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/S019472/1	Chemistry