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Updated: Apr 21, 2026
Author Spotlight: Improving the Production of Self-Assembling Fibers and Peptide Hydrogels for Superior Biocompatibility
Published on: September 6, 2024
Exceptionally strong hydrogels through self-assembly of an indole-capped dipeptide
Adam D Martin1, Andrew B Robinson, Alexander F Mason
1School of Chemistry, The Australian Centre for Nanomedicine and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia. p.thordarson@unsw.edu.au.
Abstract:
The synthesis of a new hydrogelator with an indole capping group, 1, is reported. 1 forms exceptionally strong hydrogels in a variety of environments, with values for the storage modulus G' amongst the highest reported for supramolecular hydrogels. These gels exhibit strong bundling characteristics, which gives the high values for G' observed. Cell viability studies show that at low concentrations, 1 is biocompatible, however upon self-assembly at higher concentrations, cytotoxic effects are observed.
