InhaltsangabeSECTION I: Small Molecule Gels MOLECULAR GELS AND THEIR FIBRILLAR NETWORKS Introduction Advances and Perspectives for Design of Gelators Stimulation of Gelation by Perturbations Other Than Temperature Kinetic Models for Following One-Dimensional Growth and Gelation Advances and Perspectives for a Priori Design of Gelators Some Final Thoughts ENGINEERING OF SMALL-MOLECULE GELS BASED ON THE THERMODYNAMICS AND KINETICS OF FIBER FORMATION Introduction Fiber Networks of SMGs Crystallization of Nanofibers Strategies for Engineering the Micro/Nano Structure of Fiber Networks Engineering the Macroscopic Properties of Gels by Design of Fiber Networks Conclusions APPLICATIONS OF SMALL-MOLECULE GELS - DRUG DELIVERY Introduction Hydrogels in Pharmaceutical Applications Organogels in Pharmaceutical Applications Organogel Delivery of Bioactive Factors in Regenerative Medicine Future Directions: Hybrid Organogels Conclusion MOLECULAR GELS FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING Introduction LowMolecularWeight Gelators and Molecular Gels SelfAssembly and Gel Structures Applications of Hydrogels in Tissue Engineering Summary MOLECULAR GELS FOR CONTROLLED FORMATION OF MICRO-/NANO-STRUCTURES Introduction Structure of Metal/Transition Metal Oxide and Sulfate Metallic Nanostructures Controlled Formation of Organic and Composite Structures Controlling Crystal Growth of Pharmaceutical Substances Conclusions and Perspectives SECTION II: Natural Silk Fibrous Materials SPIDER SILK: STRUCTURE, ENGINEERING, AND APPLICATIONS Introduction Mechanical Design of Spider Silk Mimicking Spider Silk Applications FUNCTIONALIZATION OF COLORED/FLUORESCENT SILKWORM SILK FIBROUS MATERIALS Introduction Legend and History of Silkworm Silk The Structure of Silkworm Silk Functionalization of Silkworm Silk Summary and Outlook SECTION III: Smart Fibers FLEXIBLE NANOGENERATOR AND NANO-PRESSURE SENSOR BASED ON NANOFIBER WEB OF PVDF AND ITS COPOLYMERS Introduction Electrospinning Mechanism and Set-up Nanofiber Web Piezoelectric Properties of Electrospun Web of PVDF and its Copolymer Flexible Devices Conclusion ELECTROSPUN NANOFIBERS FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE Introduction Electrospinning of Nanofibers Controlling the Alignment of Nanofibers Nanofiber Scaffolds with Complex Architectures Applications in Regenerative Medicine Concluding Remarks INDEX

Xiang Yang Liu is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Physics at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Having obtained his PhD degree from the Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands, he spent his career working for Unilever Research Port Sunlight Lab before taking up his present appointment at NUS. Professor Liu has authored or co-authored more than 200 scientific publications and 4 books, has received numerous scientific awards, including the 2007 Outstanding Researcher Award from NUS. JingLiang Li is a research academic in the Institute for Frontier Materials, at Deakin University, Australia. He got his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the National University of Singapore in 2004. Before moving to Australia, he worked as a research fellow in Professor Xiang Yang Liu`s group at the Physics Department of the National University of Singapore on the research of supramolecular soft materials. He has published more than 40 papers, most of which are in this area.

InhaltsangabePART I. SMALL MOLECULE GELS Small Molecule Gels - Gelator Classification and Self-Assembly Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Fiber Network Formation in Small Molecule Gels Applications of Small Molecule Gels Metal Coordination to Assist Molecular Gelation PART II. POLYMERIC HYDROGELS FROM NATURAL POLYMERS Agarose GelFormation Mechanisms and Applications Chitosan GelPreparation and Applications Polymers PART III. NATURAL FIBERS: PROCESSING AND APPLICATIONS Spider Silk and Silkworm Silk PART IV. NANOFIBER TECHNOLOGIES Fabrication, Assembly and Applications Smart Fibers and Fabrics