A Chemical‐Responsive Supramolecular Hydrogel from Modified Cyclodextrins

Abstract

No backbone required: A supramolecular hydrogel has been synthesized from a guest-modified cyclodextrin (CD) without a polymer backbone. The β-CD forms supramolecular fibrils through host–guest interactions, and then hydrogen bonds between the CDs cross-link the fibrils to give a hydrogel. Gel-to-sol transitions can be effected by adding a competitive guest or a denaturing reagent (see example).