A Natural Glycyrrhizic Acid-Tailored Light-Responsive Gelator

The construction of stimuli-responsive materials by using naturally occurring molecules as building blocks has received increasing attention owing to their bioavailability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Herein, a symmetrical azobenzene-functionalized natural glycyrrhizic acid ( trans - GAG ) was synthesized and could form stable supramolecular gels in DMSO/H 2 O and MeOH/H 2 O. Owing to trans – cis isomerization, this gel exhibited typical light-responsive behavior that led to a reversible gel–sol transition accompanied by a variation in morphology and rheology. Additionally, this trans - GAG gel displayed a distinct injectable self-healing property and outstanding biocompatibility. This work provides a simple yet rational strategy to fabricate stimuli-responsive materials from naturally occurring, eco-friendly molecules.