Effect of Alkyl Chain Length of N-Alkyl-N'-(2-benzylphenyl)ureas on Gelation.

Urea derivatives that were substituted with a 2-benzylphenyl group and an alkyl group functioned as low molecular weight gelators for various organic solvents and ionic liquids. Urea derivatives with long alkyl chains were effective for the gelation of polar solvents. However, they were not suitable for the gelation of non-polar solvents, whereas urea derivatives with short alkyl chains were effective.

Supramolecular gel electrophoresis of acidic native proteins.

Amphiphilic tris-urea molecules self-assemble into a supramolecular hydrogel in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-glycine buffer. The supramolecular hydrogel is used as a matrix for the electrophoresis of acidic native proteins, in which proteins are separated based on their isoelectric points rather than their molecular weights. The proteins remain in their native forms during migration, and their activities are retained after electrophoresis.