Synergistic effects of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions in the self-assembly of sodium lauroyl glutamate

This study focuses on microenvironmental changes under different forces and involves the construction of a series of sodium lauroyl glutamate (LGS) supramolecular hydrogel systems, including LGS hydrogel, LGS-E gel, and LGS/APG hydrogel. This research indicates that the formation of LGS supramolecular hydrogels relies on the synergy between hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. It has a specific formation range and exhibits dual responsiveness to temperature and pH. The LGS-E gel system is based on weak hydrophobic interactions and can only form in a mixed water/ethanol system, indicating relatively weak temperature responsiveness. The LGS/APG hydrogel system utilizes strong hydrogen bonding to considerably broaden the formation range of the gel phase. Although its mechanical properties are slightly reduced, its stability and the universality of formation are improved. In this study, by regulating the balance between hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, the structural design and performance regulation of LGS supramolecular hydrogels were achieved, providing theoretical and experimental support for their application in relevant fields.