Pentaerythrityl tetra-β-cyclodextrin: Synthesis, characterization and application in multiple responses hydrogel

In this paper, a facile and green synthesis approach is proposed for sustainable production of pentaerythrityl tetra-β-cyclodextrin (PT-β-CD), considering both economic and environmental points of view. The PT-β-CD was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR). These results demonstrated that PT-β-CD was synthesized successfully. Herein, we would like to present a simple method for constructing a host-guest supramolecular hydrogel, which composed of PT-β-CD and a low-molecular-weight 3-(N-erucamidopropyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium) propane carboxylate (EDAC). The supramolecular hydrogel showed shear thinning properties and recovery after removal of the strain. The average size of the EDAC/PT-β-CD aggregates was determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) to be ∼1352 nm. The microstructures of the EDAC/PT-β-CD supramolecular hydrogel were analyzed by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Microstructures in EDAC/PT-β-CD supramolecular hydrogel were net structure and a strong hydrogel. Simultaneous thermal analysis is applied in EDAC/PT-β-CD inclusion complex to reveal important information about the thermal stabilities of EDAC/PT-β-CD inclusion complex. Moreover, the EDAC/PT-β-CD supramolecular hydrogel is identified to be multiple responsive to pH, temperature, and the other competitive guests. The EDAC/PT-β-CD supramolecular hydrogel is utilized that easily obtainable and cost-effective of EDAC and PT-β-CD can promote the EDAC/PT-β-CD supramolecular hydrogel of production and application on large scale.