Supported Catalytically Active Supramolecular Hydrogels for Continuous Flow Chemistry
Jennifer Rodon Fores1, Miryam Criado-Gonzalez1,2,3, Alain Chaumont4
1Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Charles Sadron (UPR22), 23 rue du Loess, BP 84047, 67034, Strasbourg Cedex 2, France.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|October 2, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed a robust catalytic hydrogel using enzyme-assisted peptide self-assembly within a porous polymer foam. This new material overcomes the fragility of traditional peptide hydrogels, enabling practical applications in catalysis and continuous flow systems.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Catalysis
Background:
- Peptide self-assembly creates catalytically active hydrogels.
- Mechanical fragility limits practical applications of these hydrogels.
- Developing robust supramolecular materials is a key challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To overcome the mechanical limitations of peptide-based hydrogels.
- To create a robust, catalytically active supramolecular hydrogel (CASH).
- To enable practical applications of self-assembled peptide materials.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-assisted self-assembly of peptides initiated on a porous material's walls.
- Growing a CASH within an open-cell polymer foam.
- Testing the hybrid material's catalytic efficiency and stability.
Main Results:
- A robust CASH material was successfully grown within a polymer foam.
- The supported CASH demonstrated high efficiency towards inactivated esters.
- The material enabled kinetic resolution of racemates and showed stability over months.
- The hybrid material is suitable for continuous flow reactors.
Conclusions:
- Enzyme-assisted self-assembly within porous supports provides a viable strategy for robust supramolecular materials.
- This approach overcomes the fragility of traditional peptide hydrogels.
- The developed CASH material offers a stable and reusable platform for catalysis.
