Robust Gels Composed of Self-Assembled Cello-oligosaccharide Networks

Assembled molecular gels exhibit dynamic properties and have been developed as functional soft materials with self-healing ability, stimuli responsiveness, and other such properties. Nevertheless, dynamicity is not essential to molecular assemblies. We created static and robust hydrogels composed of self-assembled cello-oligosaccharide networks. In fact, the novel gels are solvent-exchangeable from water even to nonpolar organic solvents, reflecting extremely low stimuli responsiveness. This Account summarizes our recent research progress on cello-oligosaccharide gels, from their production to applications that exploit the unique properties of these crystalline oligosaccharide assemblies. Our findings suggest that statically assembled molecular gels have unconventional applications.