Supramolecular Hydrogel Derived from a C3-Symmetric Boronic Acid Derivative for Stimuli-Responsive Release of Insulin and Doxorubicin

A C3-symmetric triazine based triboronic acid (HG1) was designed and synthesized. HG1 was found to give hydrogel in DMSO-water (1:9). The hydrogel was rheo-reversible and thermoreversible over a few cycles. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD) studies on the crystals of HG1 established the presence of honeycomb network in which solvent molecules (DMSO and water) were occluded. SXRD data corroborated well with the hypothesis based on which HG1 was designed. Stimuli responsive release (in vitro) of insulin and doxorubicin from the hydrogel was also achieved.