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Tuning Supramolecular Hydrogels with Surfactant-Based Organic Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery
Dinesh Kumar Duraisamy1,2, Puchalapalli Saveri3, Abhijit P Deshpande3
1Organic & Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, CSIR - Central Leather Research Institute, Adyar, Chennai, India.
Chempluschem
|March 3, 2026
Summary
This study shows how surfactant nanoparticles can tune self-assembling hydrogels for drug delivery. Cationic surfactants improve hydrogel properties, while anionic ones disrupt them, offering control over drug release.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Materials science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Low molecular weight gelators, particularly amino acid/peptide-based ones, form supramolecular hydrogels.
- These hydrogels exhibit stimuli-responsive behavior, making them attractive for drug delivery applications.
- Controlling hydrogel properties is crucial for optimizing drug release profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different surfactant-based nanoparticles (CTAB, SDS, TX100) on Fmoc-Phe hydrogel properties.
- To understand how surfactant concentration relative to critical micelle concentration (CMC) influences hydrogel self-assembly and performance.
- To evaluate the effect of these modulated hydrogels on the controlled release of the chemotherapeutic drug daunorubicin.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of Fmoc-Phe hydrogels.
- Incorporation of cationic (CTAB), anionic (SDS), and nonionic (TX100) surfactants at varying concentrations.
- Assessment of self-assembly, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and fibrillar morphology using microscopy and spectroscopy.
- Evaluation of daunorubicin release kinetics from the modified hydrogels.
Main Results:
- Cationic CTAB accelerated gelation and improved mechanical strength and thermal stability by neutralizing Fmoc-Phe carboxylate groups.
- Anionic SDS hindered gelation and disrupted fibrillar networks due to electrostatic repulsion, particularly above its CMC.
- Nonionic TX100 induced subtle changes in fibril morphology via hydrophobic interactions without disrupting hydrogen bonds.
- Distinct surfactant-hydrogel interactions led to altered daunorubicin release profiles.
Conclusions:
- Surfactant nanoparticles provide a tunable strategy to modify the physicochemical and functional characteristics of Fmoc-Phe hydrogels.
- These findings highlight the potential of surfactant-modulated hydrogels for advanced biomedical applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and injectable therapies.
- The study demonstrates precise control over hydrogel properties and drug release through rational design with surfactant nanoparticles.
