Technology Overview

The University of York has developed significant technological expertise in the formation of multi-component soft gel-phase materials. In particular, they work with low-molecular-weight biocompatible molecules which self-assemble into gel-like media, and they are now the leading UK academic group in this area. This gel-forming event occurs as a consequence of non-covalent interactions between the molecular scale building blocks, assembling them into fibres, which then form an extended network capable of trapping solvent – a gel-phase material.

The university’s particular expertise has been in developing materials in which multiple different components are combined, and gaining understanding of how each self-assembled network behaves either independently, or in combination with the others. Because these materials are programmed by specific non-covalent interactions between molecules, this ‘information’ controls in a precise manner the way in which the materials self-assemble. This can lead to multi-network materials in which individual nanoscale materials operate independently of one another and can yield highly addressable multi-functional materials.

The university’s particular innovative approaches have focussed on molecular-scale programming of information combined with a deep understanding of how to formulate, study and understand these materials in a reproducible and controllable way. They can assemble multi-component gels in a wide range of different fluids – ranging from petroleum oils and food oils through to water and have developed a good understanding of how gelation depends on the nature of the solvent.

Benefits

Combining multiple self-assemble building blocks into a gel material allows scientists to embed multiple functionalities into a single system. This can yield soft materials with significantly enhanced properties. For example (Soft Matter 2013, 9, 8730-8736), we can easily create materials which are both robust but responsive (see ) – with one network providing real materials strength, whilst the other provides triggered response to a stimulus (e.g. pH, light etc.) – hence embedding one functional network inside another.

Researchers at the University believe that their expertise in combining self-assembled nanostructures would be highly valuable to companies who wish to formulate a wide range of nanosystems into gel type matrices in order to generate novel soft materials with embedded nanofunctionality. This can lead to next generation gels which are more than just lubricants or thickening agents, but which actually deliver an additional functionality.

Applications

This approach to gel technology and multifunctional materials could have direct application in the food industry, drug delivery, cosmetics industry and in personal care products. Gels are a common formulation tool, but are often relatively inert. The capability of our multi-functional gels to respond in different ways to different stimuli may allow us to begin developing smart ‘multi-dimension’ soft materials.

In addition to multi-network gels as described above, the University has interest and expertise in combining self-assembled gels with other nanotechnologies, such as dendrimers, nanotubes, graphene, drug delivery micelles etc. This provides an easy way of embedding a functional nanosystem within a gel, which is trapped until the gel responds to stimulus and undergoes triggered breakdown – as such the reversible nanoscale network controls and mediates the activity of the other nano-active species.

Multi-Component Soft-Gel Materials with Enhanced Multi-Function

Seeking