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Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
Published on: April 22, 2016
Robust scalable synthesis of a bis-urea derivative forming thixotropic and cytocompatible supramolecular hydrogels
Laurens A J Rutgeerts1, Al Halifa Soultan, Ramesh Subramani
1Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium. wim.deborggraeve@kuleuven.be.
Abstract:
Synthetic hydrogels address a need for affordable, industrially scalable scaffolds for tissue engineering. Herein, a novel low molecular weight gelator is reported that forms self-healing supramolecular hydrogels. Its robust synthesis can be performed in a solvent-free manner using ball milling. Strikingly, encapsulated cells spread and proliferate without specific cell adhesion ligands in the nanofibrous material.
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