Biocompatible small peptide super-hydrogelators bearing carbazole functionalities

J Mater Chem B. 2015 Mar 21;3(11):2277-2280. doi: 10.1039/c5tb00067j. Epub 2015 Feb 23.

Abstract

For the first time we have introduced carbazole capping groups onto two short peptide sequences, namely a diphenylalanine dipeptide and a glycine-diphenylalanine tripeptide, giving compounds 1 and 2, respectively. Both molecules form hydrogels at low concentrations, as low as 0.03% (w/v) for 1- well within the range of supergelators. Both gelators are composed of small ca. 2 nm thick molecular fibres, as elucidated by AFM and are non-cytotoxic towards HeLa cells at concentrations which are at or above their minimum gelation concentration.