Light-triggered syneresis of a water insoluble peptide-hydrogel effectively removes small molecule waste contaminants
Basab Kanti Das, Bapan Pramanik, Sumit Chowdhuri, Oren A. Scherman, Debapratim Das
Abstract
A short peptide based hydrogel exhibits aqueous insolubility, thixotropy and efficient light induced syneresis. Upon irradiation with UV light, the hydrogel shrinks and expells ∼50% of the solvent. Syneresis is caused by light-triggered trans-cis isomerisation of an azobenzene moiety in the peptide derivative. This expulsion of solvent can be effectively exploited in the removal of low molecular weight contaminants in water.
Topics & Concepts
SyneresisChemistryMoleculeIrradiationPeptideContaminated waterContaminationChemical engineeringSelf-healing hydrogelsSmall moleculeWater solubleBiophysicsPolymer chemistryOrganic chemistryEnvironmental chemistryBiochemistryEngineeringNuclear physicsEcologyPhysicsBiologySupramolecular Self-Assembly in MaterialsPhotochromic and Fluorescence ChemistryPhotoreceptor and optogenetics research