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Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Author Spotlight: Improving the Production of Self-Assembling Fibers and Peptide Hydrogels for Superior Biocompatibility
Published on: September 6, 2024
Sub-zero temperature mechanically stable low molecular weight hydrogels
Alice E R Fayter1, Matthew I Gibson1,2, Emily R Draper3
1Department of Chemistry , University of Warwick , CV4 7AL , UK.
Abstract:
We show here a low molecular weight hydrogelator based on a functionalised-dipeptide which is stable down to temperatures of -12 °C despite being made from >99% water. This stabilty at low temperature can be extended to ∼-40 °C by gelling water : glycerol mixtures. The temperature range is wider than that of the glycerol : water mixtures alone. The rheological properties of the gels do not change at this low temperature compared to that of gels at 25 °C. This freezing point depression offers a potentially new method of transporting gels and offers the prospect of hydrogels being used at much lower working temperatures whilst retaining the desired rheological properties, this is useful for cryopreservation.
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