Formation of pH-Responsive Supramolecular Hydrogels in Basic Buffers: Self-assembly of Amphiphilic Tris-Urea.

An amphiphilic tris-urea compound (1) containing hydrophilic resorcinol units was designed and synthesized. Compound 1 formed supramolecular hydrogels in basic buffers, such as glycine-NaOH, phosphate-NaOH, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES)-NaOH, and borate-NaOH. The optimum pH range of the buffer solution for gelation was 10-11 and insoluble suspensions or solutions were formed when the pH was outside this range.

Separation of proteins using supramolecular gel electrophoresis.

An amphiphilic low-molecular-weight hydrogelator 1 was synthesized. A tris-glycine-SDS solution gel of 1 was applied for electrophoresis to separate proteins. Centrifugation of a mixture of protein and a hydrogel of 1 enabled the recovery of protein.