First self-assembly study of betulinic acid, a renewable nano-sized, 6-6-6-6-5 pentacyclic monohydroxy triterpenic acid

Self-assembly of betulinic acid, a renewable nano-sized 6-6-6-6-5 pentacyclic triterpenic acid studied in twenty two organic liquids and alcohol-water mixtures showed that it self-assembled in all the liquids studied affording strong gels in nineteen organic liquids and also in alcohol-water mixtures. Optical and electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy studies revealed fibrillar networks having fibers of nano- to micro-metre cross sections and micrometre lengths.