The importance of the self-assembly process to control mechanical properties of low molecular weight hydrogels

Raeburn, J., Zamith Cardoso, A. and Adams, D. J. (2013) The importance of the self-assembly process to control mechanical properties of low molecular weight hydrogels. Chemical Society Reviews, 42(12), pp. 5143-5156. (doi: 10.1039/C3CS60030K)

Abstract

Hydrogels can be formed by the self-assembly of certain small molecules in water. Self-assembly occurs via non-covalent interactions. The self-assembly leads to the formation of fibrous structures which form the matrix of the gel. The mechanical properties of the gels arise from the properties of the fibres themselves (thickness, persistence length etc.), the number and type of cross-links and also how the fibres are distributed in space (the microstructure). We discuss here the effect of assembling the molecules under different conditions, i.e. the self-assembly process. There is sufficient literature showing that how the molecules are assembled can have a significant effect on the properties of the resulting gels.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Adams, Dave
• Authors: Raeburn, J., Zamith Cardoso, A., and Adams, D. J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Chemical Society Reviews
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• ISSN: 0306-0012
• ISSN (Online): 1460-4744
• Published Online: 09 April 2013