Phenylalanine-containing cyclic dipeptides--the lowest molecular weight hydrogelators based on unmodified proteinogenic amino acids.

Cyclic dipeptides (diketopiperazines - DKPs) that are based on the proteinogenic amino acid phenylalanine in combination with serine, cysteine, glutamate, histidine and lysine are described as simple and remarkable low molecular weight hydrogelators. Blends of selected DKPs show remarkable pH-dependent properties and can be applied as easy to tune materials in drug delivery.