A pH-/thermo-responsive hydrogel formed from N,N'-dibenzoyl-l-cystine: properties, self-assembly structure and release behavior of SA.

ABSTRACT: In this study, we report a pH-/thermo-responsive hydrogel formed by N,N'-dibenzoyl-l-cystine (DBC). It is difficult to dissolve DBC in water even on heating, and it exhibits no gelation ability. Interestingly, DBC is readily soluble in NaOH solution at room temperature and the self-assembled hydrogels are obtained by adjusting the basic DBC aqueous solution with HCl to achieve a given pH value (<3.5). When NaOH is added to the hydrogel (pH > 9.4), it becomes a sol again. This small-molecule hydrogel is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, rheological measurement and differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicate that the DBC hydrogel exhibits excellent mechanical properties, thermo-reversibility, and pH-responsive pr

SUBMITTER: Zhong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9063318 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature