A thermo-responsive supramolecular hydrogel that senses cholera toxin via color-changing response

A Pyrene-based amphiphile with C4-alkanoyl spacer and lactose (PyLac) self-assembles in the aqueous media to form an injectable hydrogel. It shows preferential binding with Cholera Toxin (CT)viaits terminal galactose residue, and hence can be employed for the selective detection of CTviacolor-changing response.