Toward supramolecular structured hydrogels and transient networks

Organic solvents can play a very dramatic role in modulating the strength of the interactions that drive the self-association of phenylacetylene macrocycles. Due to the fact that the macrocycle is insoluble in water, the nature of the interactions responsible for the association in aqueous media is poorly understood. However, the association should be significantly enhanced by hydrophobic forces which would coerce the macrocycle to aggregate. One way to investigate this possibility would be to study polymer architectures containing both amphiphilic and macrocycle segments.