A solution of N-heptyl-D-galactonamide in dimethylsulfoxide is injected in water. The diffusion of water inside the dimethylsulfoxide liquid jet triggers the self-assembly of the molecular gelator. Gelation is quick enough to give continuous gel filaments that look like spaghettis. “Spaghettis” made of 97% of water and 3% of N-heptyl-D-galactonamide.
Publications
Chalard, A.; Joseph, P.; Souleille, S.; Lonetti, B.; Saffon-Merceron, N.; Loubinoux, I.; Vaysse, L.; Malaquin, L.; Fitremann, J. Wet Spinning and Radial Self-Assembly of a Carbohydrate Low Molecular Weight Gelator into Well Organized Hydrogel Filaments. Nanoscale 2019 , 11(32), 15043–15056.
Bordignon, D.; Lonetti, B.; Coudret, C.; Roblin, P.; Joseph, P.; Malaquin, L.; Chalard, A.; Fitremann, J. Wet Spinning of a Library of Carbohydrate Low Molecular Weight Gels. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2021, 603, 333–343.
Two recipes to prepare the hydrogel
Take this molecule:
N-heptyl-D-galactonamide
ALTERNATIVE MOLECULES to get gel filaments by wet spinning
BULK GEL by HEATING-COOLING
- Heat a solution containing
- 5 mg/mL in water
- And let it cool at room temperature
GEL FILAMENTS by WET-SPINNING
- Prepare a solution containing e.g. 40 mg/mL in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)
- And inject it in a large bath of water with a blunt tip needle plunging in the water bath at 20 µL/min
