Supramolecular hydrogels based on antimycobacterial amphiphilesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: All experimental details. See DOI: 10.1039/c2sm07456g

Synthetic modification of antimycobacterial 4-alkoxy-anilines yields low molecular weight amphiphiles. The bioactivity is retained in these amphiphiles and shows alkyl chain length specificity. The self-assembly behaviour in aqueous media was investigated. It was found that several of these new compounds are capable of forming thermoreversible supramolecular hydrogels in alkaline aqueous media. The initial drug can be released from the hydrogel by thermal hydrolysis. Synthetic modification of antimycobacterial 4-alkoxyanilines yields amphiphilic low molecular weight hydrogelators with retained antimycobacterial activity and the capability for release of the initial drug.