Volume 58, Issue 51 pp. 18434-18437
Communication

Drawing with Iron on a Gel Containing a Supramolecular Siderophore

Songjun Xiao

Songjun Xiao

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742 USA

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Prof. Paul J. Paukstelis

Prof. Paul J. Paukstelis

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742 USA

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Dr. Richard D. Ash

Dr. Richard D. Ash

Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742 USA

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Dr. Peter Y. Zavalij

Dr. Peter Y. Zavalij

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742 USA

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Prof. Jeffery T. Davis

Corresponding Author

Prof. Jeffery T. Davis

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742 USA

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First published: 16 October 2019
Citations: 23

Graphical Abstract

Soft matter, hard shell: pH-responsive hydrogels that can chelate Fe3+ were prepared from guanosine-5′-hydroxamic acid (HA). At high pH, the hydrogel binds thiazole orange, signaled by enhanced fluorescence. The HA units can also act as a supramolecular siderophore to form red complexes with Fe3+, which allowed the patterning of the hydrogel surface with FeCl3.

Abstract

Guanosine-5′-hydroxamic acid (3) forms hydrogels when mixed with guanosine (1) and KCl. The 5′-hydroxamic acid (HA) unit is pH-responsive and also chelates Fe3+. When gels are prepared under basic conditions, the 5′-HA groups are deprotonated and the anionic hydrogel binds cationic thiazole orange (TO), signaled by enhanced fluorescence. The HA nucleoside 3, when immobilized in the G-quartet gel, acts as a supramolecular siderophore to form red complexes with Fe3+. We patterned the hydrogel's surface with FeCl3, by hand and by using a 3D printer. Patterns form instantly, are visible by eye, and can be erased using vitamin C. This hydrogel, combining self-assembled G-quartet and siderophore–Fe3+ motifs, is strong, can be molded into different shapes, and is stable on the bench or under salt water.

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