N-stearoyl amino acid derivatives: Potent biomimetic hydro/organogelators as templates for preparation of gold nanoparticles

► Novel potent low molecular weight organogelators were synthesized. ► Their self-assembly in the organic solvents and the morphology of the gel networks were examined. ► Organogel and hydrogel were employed as soft templates for in situ generation of small and non-aggregated gold nanoparticles.