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Updated: May 3, 2026
Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
Assembly Pattern of Supramolecular Hydrogel Induced by Lower Critical Solution Temperature Behavior of
Shuanggen Wu1, Qiao Zhang1, Yan Deng1
1College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Hunan University , Changsha , Hunan 410082 , People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Although the gelation process and lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior are well acknowledged in polymer systems, low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) rarely display LCST behavior during supramolecular gelation. Herein, we report an LMWG system with LCST-type thermoresponsiveness and an LCST-triggered supramolecular gelation process. Temperature plays a crucial role in this system, not only affecting the LCST phase separation but also triggering the gelation process. The backbones (three-dimensional structures) of the resulting hydrogel are the hierarchical assemblies of the LMWG undergoing the LCST phase separation. Hence, the gelation of the LMWG is only realized when the gelation temperature is above the critical transition temperature (Tcloud) of the LCST behavior, which is different from many supramolecular or polymeric hydrogel systems.
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