Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel peptide amphiphile molecules and compositions discovered to possess improved solubility in aqueous buffers which, in turn, facilitates purification required for pharmaceutical applications, particularly for in vivo administration to human patients. In addition, gels of such peptide amphiphile compositions are shown herein to possess unexpectedly superior gelation kinetics and rheological properties, including an increased mechanical stiffness, which better mimics the mechanical properties of natural central nervous system tissues.