Data from: Investigating reproducibility challenges in CD spectroscopy of FmocFF gels

Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-diphenylalanine (FmocFF) is a widely studied low
molecular weight gelator (LMWG) known for its ability to self-assemble
into supramolecular gels with diverse applications. Despite extensive
literature, the reported circular dichroism (CD) spectra of FmocFF are
remarkably inconsistent, even under seemingly identical experimental
conditions. In this study, we systematically investigate the factors
contributing to this variability and propose a protocol for reproducible
CD measurements of FmocFF in solution and gel states. We compare gelation
triggers including HCl, glucono-δ-lactone (GdL), CaCl₂, and DMSO/water
solvent-switch, and assess the impact of sample handling, loading
techniques, and cuvette geometry on spectral features. Our findings
demonstrate that sample homogeneity, cuvette path length, and high-tension
(HT) signal monitoring are critical for reliable CD analysis of short
peptide-based gels. This work highlights the importance of rigorous
experimental practices in interpreting supramolecular chirality of
dynamic, heterogeneous systems such as FmocFF gels.