Multi-stimuli responsive self-healing metallo-hydrogels: tuning of the gel recovery property

A series of amphiphilic tyrosine based self-healable, multi-stimuli responsive metallo-hydrogels have been discovered. Formation of these hydrogels is highly selective to Ni2+ ions. The self-healing property and the stiffness of these metallo-hydrogels can be tuned by varying the chain length of the corresponding gelator amphiphile.