2025-04-28 明治薬科大学
<関連情報>
- https://www.my-pharm.ac.jp/news/detail/239/
- https://www.my-pharm.ac.jp/files/co/news/pdf/PressRelease_250428.pdf
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59032-6
尿素誘導体の超分子ゲル化機構の分子レベルでの解明 Molecular-level insights into the supramolecular gelation mechanism of urea derivative
Shinya Kimura,Kurea Adachi,Yoshiki Ishii,Tomoki Komiyama,Takuho Saito,Naofumi Nakayama,Masashi Yokoya,Hikaru Takaya,Shiki Yagai,Shinnosuke Kawai,Takayuki Uchihashi &Masamichi Yamanaka
Nature Communications Published:22 April 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59032-6
Abstract
Despite being a promising soft material embodied by molecular self-assembly, the formation mechanism of supramolecular gels remains challenging to fully understand. Here we provide molecular to nanoscopic insights into the formation mechanism of gel-forming fibers from a urea derivative. High-speed atomic force microscopy of the urea derivative revealed the presence of a lag phase prior to the formation of supramolecular fibers, suggesting a nucleation process. The fiber growth kinetics differ at both termini of the fiber, indicating a directional hydrogen-bonding motif by the urea units, which is supported by single-crystal X-ray crystallography of a reference compound. Moreover, we observed an intermittent growth pattern of the fibers with repeated elongation and pause phases. This unique behavior can be simulated by a theoretical block-stacking model. A statistical analysis of the concentration-dependent lag time on macroscopic observation of the gelation suggests the presence of a tetrameric or octameric nucleus of the urea molecules.