Simple esters of cholic acid as potent organogelators: direct imaging of the collapse of SAFINs

Unusual gelation of a number of organic solvents by allyl cholate and other simple esters of cholic acid is reported. These gels were characterized by SEM, AFM, polarizing optical microscopy (POM), X-ray powder diffraction and other techniques. Electron micrographs of the xerogels revealed the presence of highly entangled 3D fibrillar networks. Direct imaging of the collapse of SAFINs and their thermal stability were performed using variable temperature polarizing optical microscopy (POM).