Hydrogelation abilities of nucleobase-modified cytidines possessing substituted triazoles

Nucleoside-derived hydrogelators have been sought for their potential biomedical applications, such as are found in tissue engineering and drug delivery. By judiciously adding a degree of hydrophobicity certain analogues are able to form micelles, bi-layers and gels in water. Research in this area has yet to lay down solid ground rules for the rational design of novel nucleoside gelators making further studies necessary. The synthesis and examination of a series of aryl-substituted 5-triazolylcytidines yielded an analogue that gelates water. 5-(1-(2,2'-bithiophen-3-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-2'-deoxycytidine was found to form gels in water down to 0.3 wt%. The ribocytidine analogue failed to form gel in aqueous solution; but was able to form a hydrogel in the presence of guanosine. Images obtained by SEM show the different architectures of the gel; varying from cribriform to fibrous to lamellar. The present gelating compound studied may have potential as a component of a controlled-release drug delivery system.