Synthesis and Characterization of Monosaccharide-derived Low Molecular Weight Gelators

Low molecular weight gelators are important soft materials with wide-ranging applications. Gelation of these compounds occurs due to one-dimensional self-assembly of the individual molecules into higher order aggregates, which trap solvent molecules by surface tension and capillary forces. Since self-assembly is the driving force for gelation, templates which are prone to self-assembly are useful starting points for the design of low molecular weight gelators. Biomolecules, such as amino acids, steroids, and carbohydrates, are not only prone to self-assembly, but are also naturally abundant and can be functionalized with relative ease, making them ideal templates for the design of supramolecular gelators. This review of the recent literature will discuss a variety of different low molecular weight gelators which have been synthesized from amino acids, steroids, and carbohydrates.