L-Cysteine/AgNO2 low molecular weight gelators: self-assembly and suppression of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

We report a new supramolecular hydrogel based on simple amino acids and silver salt compounds with low molecular weights. The in situ formation of silver nanoparticles during the self-assembly process endows the hydrogel with high cytotoxicity towards adenocarcinoma breast cells but no toxic effects towards embryonic fibroblasts.