Controlled annealing in adaptive multicomponent gels

Ravarino, P., Panja, S. , Bianco, S. , Koev, T., Wallace, M. and Adams, D. J. (2023) Controlled annealing in adaptive multicomponent gels. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 62(4), e202215813. (doi: 10.1002/anie.202215813) (PMID:36418223)

Abstract

We use a pH-driven annealing process to convert between co-assembled and self-sorted networks in multicomponent gels. The initially formed gels at low pH are co-assembled, with the two components coexisting within the same self-assembled structures. We use an enzymatic approach to increase the pH, resulting in a gel-to-sol transition, followed by a hydrolysis to lower the pH once again. As the pH decreases, a self-sorted network is formed by a two-stage gelation process determined by the pKa of each component. This approach can be expanded to layered systems to generate many varied systems by changing composition and rates of pH change, adapting their microstructure and so allowing access to a far greater range of morphologies and complexity than can be achieved in single component systems.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship to MW (MR/T044020/1).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bianco, Simona and Adams, Dave and Panja, Dr Santanu and Ravarino, Paolo
• Authors: Ravarino, P., Panja, S., Bianco, S., Koev, T., Wallace, M., and Adams, D. J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Angewandte Chemie (International Edition)
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1433-7851
• ISSN (Online): 1521-3773
• Published Online: 23 November 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Angewandte Chemie (International Edition) 62(4): e202215813
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License