Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This paper reports on the use of acetyl-L-valine (Ac-Val) as an effective and precise pH modifier for inducing hydrogel formation. Ac-Val offers several advantages: it is fully water-soluble, overcoming dissolution issues, and allows for stock solution preparation to fine-tune trigger volume and final material pH. As a weaker carboxylic acid compared to inorganic acids, Ac-Val enables more controlled pH variation. For comparison, a commercial lactic acid (LA) solution was also evaluated. The reliability of Ac-Val as a pH modifier was tested on three amino acid derivatives—Boc-Dopa(Bn)2-OH, Lau-Dopa(Bn)2-OH, and Pal-Phe-OH, all known to be efficient gelators. These molecules, sharing common structural features, form gels varying in transparency, robustness, and elasticity. Notably, Pal-Phe-OH is a supergelator. A key benefit of Ac-Val lies in its ability to cause an instantaneous pH modification, allowing for precise pH adjustment before the gel network forms. This pH-change approach with Ac-Val demonstrates broad applicability, enabling the creation of gels with tailored pH values for various acidic molecules, which is particularly valuable for applications like drug delivery where specific pH environments are crucial.
Source: Molecules
Institution: University of Bologna
Language: English
Subfield: Biomaterials
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
Funder: European Commission
Award: G401706003
OpenAlex ID: W4413212758