Drawing with Iron on a Gel Containing a Supramolecular Siderophore

Guanosine‐5′‐hydroxamic acid ( 3 ) forms hydrogels when mixed with guanosine ( 1 ) and KCl. The 5′‐hydroxamic acid (HA) unit is pH‐responsive and also chelates Fe³⁺. When gels are prepared under basic conditions, the 5′‐HA groups are deprotonated and the anionic hydrogel binds cationic thiazole orange (TO), signaled by enhanced fluorescence. The HA nucleoside 3 , when immobilized in the G‐quartet gel, acts as a supramolecular siderophore to form red complexes with Fe³⁺. We patterned the hydrogel's surface with FeCl₃, by hand and by using a 3D printer. Patterns form instantly, are visible by eye, and can be erased using vitamin C. This hydrogel, combining self‐assembled G‐quartet and siderophore–Fe³⁺ motifs, is strong, can be molded into different shapes, and is stable on the bench or under salt water.