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Multiscale Self-Assembly of Sugar-based Amphiphiles

Molecular hydrogels

  • Chemistry of self-assembling sugar amphiphiles
  • Carbohydrate supramolecular hydrogels
  • Self-assembled fibrillar networks
  • 3D scaffolds for cell culture
  • Spinning and spaghettis
  • 3D printing

About

This website is intended to present various scientific works relating to the self-assembly of small amphiphilic saccharidic molecules. It focuses more particularly on molecular hydrogels, methods of preparation, control of the self-assembly and on applications, notably their use as scaffold for cell culture.

It results from a collaborative work by researchers from different academic laboratories located in Toulouse (France): IMRCP, TONIC, LAAS

Consult SAS contributors

Molecular gels are formed by the self-assembly of low molecular weight molecules, namely «small», non-polymer molecules, in organic solvents or in water. They are polymer-free hydrogels.

Scaffolds for Cell Culture

Molecular hydrogels based on a single synthetic molecule, N-heptyl-D-galactonamide have been successfully used as scaffold for the 3D cell culture of neurons and glial cells. The self-assembled fibers sustain a very soft, porous, low density hydrogel scaffold.

Hydrogel wet-spinning

A single small molecule, N-heptyl-D-galactonamide, can be spun in highly hydrated gel spaghettis. The self-assembling process is very well-controlled: it gives rise to nanometric, monodisperse supramolecular fibers, with a radial organization.

3D printing

The molecular hydrogel N-heptyl-D-galactonamide can be 3D printed by a solvent-exchange process. It gives well-defined patterns of highly hydrated, low density and transient hydrogel.

Molecular gels structure

Molecular gels are formed by the self-assembly of small non-polymer molecules. They self-assemble into fibers or ribbons of nanometric to micrometric size. The fibers network entraps water in case of hydrogels or an organic solvent in case of organogels.

This work has been funded by the French national Research Agency ANR  (grant n°ANR-15-CE07-0007 « Neuraxe » )
Sucrose esters

The HLB of sucrose esters

Sucrose fatty acid esters are food emulsifiers (E473). A range of industrial blends, from water-in-oil to oil-in-water emulsifiers, is commercially available. How sucrose esters have been classified depending on the composition of the blend? How does it relate with the “Hydrophile Lipophile Balance” or “HLB” concept?

Solvent-free synthesis of Sucrose esters

In the context of developing green chemistry methods, we set up a homogenous process for the synthesis of sucrose esters without any solvent. It provides sucrose monoesters in high yield and with a low yield of by-products.

OUR PARTNERS

Involved academic and research institutions

cnrs
UT3
inserm
CHUToulouse
ANR

Involved academic laboratories

IMRCP
TONIC
LAAS

OTHERS PARTNERS

innovorga
TRI
CMEAB
fermat
ICT
EU