New carbohydrate amphiphiles, 2: Gel formation and gel morphologies

Abstract

The physical gelation of 3,4,5-trialkoxy-N-(1-deoxysorbitol-1-yl)benzamides and 3,4,5-trialkoxy-N-(2-deoxyglucos-2-yl)benzamides in organic solvents and monomeric methacrylates at ambient temperature is reported. UV polymerization of the methacrylate solvent yielded interpenetrating networks of the crosslinked polymethacrylate and the aggregated solute. The embedded gels exhibit two different morphologies depending on the solvent. Either white/turbid gels containing a percolating network of globular aggregates (ø=1-10 μm) or clear, transparent gels consisting of rod-like crystals (ø=4-100 nm) were found. The sphere morphology consists of small rod-shaped crystallites assembled to spherical objects and is assumed to be caused by a liquid-liquid demixing process prior to gelation.