No abstract

The evaluation of PEG as a gelation solvent for an organogel based on β-cyclodextrin (β-CyD) was investigated using principal component analysis (PCA). The test tube tilting method was performed to examine the gel formation experimentally. The important descriptors used in the PCA included the Hansen partial solubility parameters. LogP may be able to be used as an additional descriptor for this system. According to PCA analysis, PEG was in a cluster of gelation solvents. Subsequently, various PEG liquid state grades were tested for their ability to gel the system and PEG400 was found to be able to produce a gel. This verifies that PCA can be successfully used to evaluate the role of PEG. Accordingly, this PCA method may be an effective tool to evaluate the role of any solvent for other low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs). Afterwards, the optimal components in the system were explored, and it was found to be 0.1M β-CyD, 0.5M K2CO3 in PEG400. Based on WAXS, the gel fiber of this organogel was demonstrated to be amorphous. This forming organogel will be further characterized in details and investigated for use in a drug delivery system.