Molecular organogelators are known for their ability to convert a liquid into an elastic gel by the formation of a self-assembled fibrous network in three dimensions. This ability enables a variety of applications such as oil spill treatment, art conservation, and plasma and serum separation. Protein-based molecular gelators also play a critical role in biology. In particular, gelators in our blood stream perform the vital function of sealing wounds. At the wound site, an inactive form of the gelator (fibrinogen) is transformed by thrombin into an active gelator (fibrin), and a fibrin network forms to seal the wound. This process is highly sensitive to the environment: under normal conditions, the gelator remains inactive and does not hinder the blood flow. In this study, we put forward a scheme that mimics the environment-sensitive gelation of blood. A well-known organogelator, dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS), was selected as a counterpart of fibrin and a mixture of non-polar solvent and DMSO was used as a model fluid. DBS solubilized in this solvent mixture remains as discrete molecules (inactive) and does not form a gel in the container or when flowed through a tube. However, when the tube springs a leak in an aqueous environment, DBS undergoes gelation at the site of the leak, thus sealing the leak. The diffusion of DMSO (good solvent for DBS) from the oil phase to the aqueous phase gives rise to a phase-sensitive gelation of DBS. We hope that our work will stimulate the study and application of phase-sensitive gelation.

Gelation of oil upon contact with water: A bioinspired scheme for sealing oil leaks

247th National Meeting (2014)

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