Tetracarboxylic aromatic acid-based self-healing metallosupramolecular flexible nano-scaffold: Exploring rheological features, stimuli-responsiveness and anti-bacterial efficiency

Tetracarboxylic acid-directed formation strategy of Zn(II)-metallogel has been achieved through supramolecular interactions among gel-forming Zn(II) acetate dihydrate, pyromellitic acid and N,N′-dimethyl formamide (DMF). Role of pyromellitic acid as low molecular weight gelator in forming stable Zn(II)-metallogel has been established through the work. Mechanical stability of Zn(II)-metallogel has been characterized through several rheological analyses including frequency sweep, strain sweep, time sweep (i.e., thixotropic analysis), and Creep recovery tests. The morphological feature of the xerogel sample of Zn(II)-metallogel gets scrutinized through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) investigation. The elemental analyses associated to FESEM system has also been performed for getting the role of different metallogel-forming chemical ingredients. The stimuli-responsiveness of the prepared metallogel has been deciphered by applying several influences like mechanical shaking, sonication, heating effect, chemical factors like acid, base, UV-light exposure. The metallogel construction pathway has been explored through the employment of FT-IR and ESI-Mass spectral analyses. The biological effectiveness of the metallogel is also explored. Different kinds of bacteria including Gram +/- ve species such as Bacillus cereus (ATCC 13061), Listeria monocytogenes (MTCC 657), and Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96), Salmonella typhimurium (MTCC 98) and Escherichia coli (MTCC 1667) are subjected for exploring the bioactivity of synthesized Zn(II)-metallogel.