Articles tagged with Polymer Engineering
Collymer is a regenerative collagen polymeric biomaterial designed for various medical applications. It can be engineered into materials with different shapes and properties to address unmet clinical needs in wound care, tissue reconstruction, aesthetics, orthopedics, and therapeutic cell delivery.
Researchers at MIT have designed tiny particles that can be implanted at a tumor site, delivering heat and chemotherapy to treat cancer. The treatment approach has been shown to completely eliminate tumors in most mice and prolong their survival.
Researchers developed grain-sized soft robots that can transport up to four different drugs, release them in reprogrammable orders and doses, and navigate complex environments inside the human body. The robots' precision functions have the potential to significantly improve therapeutic outcomes while minimizing side effects.
Researchers have discovered a gene called NANOG that can improve nerve regrowth and re-establish innervation in damaged muscles after traumatic nerve injuries. This discovery has significant potential to help mitigate long-term disability for people with debilitating nerve injuries.
GeniPhys secures $500k NSF grant to support regulatory and commercial readiness of Collymer SAS for soft tissue restoration in advanced wound care. The technology promotes regenerative remodeling without inflammatory response, facilitating faster healing and tissue repair.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a polymer film infused with a special chalcogenide perovskite compound that produces electricity when squeezed or stressed. The material has shown promising results, including powering LED lights and potentially being used in machines, infrastructure, and biomedical applications.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new expansion technique to image nanoscale structures inside cells using conventional light microscopes. The method, which expands tissue 20-fold in a single step, allows for high-resolution imaging of organelles and protein clusters.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a material that combines stiffness and damping properties, making it suitable for various applications. The new composite material features layers of stiff materials connected by ultra-thin rubber-like layers, resulting in excellent vibration-damping performance.
Researchers successfully designed and engineered novel enzyme systems that can degrade various types of plastics. By replacing the binding module with different modules, they created chimera LPMOs capable of recognizing and breaking down different types of plastics, including biosourced polyhydroxyalkanoate.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a new polymer that provides insights into material response to high-speed impacts. The study reveals the formation of Mach cones, acoustic waves that travel faster than sound, allowing scientists to visualize subsurface distortions in materials.
Researchers at Osaka University have developed a way to make tough, chemically recyclable polymers without compromising on heat and chemical resistance. This breakthrough could hugely expand the uses of chemically recyclable polymers.
A new method to construct protein complex-based therapeutics has been discovered using a polymer cloak, which stabilizes the delivery of protein complexes and enables tumor-targeted immunomodulation. The study presents an IL-15 nanosuperagonist with enhanced efficacy and specificity, promising a safer therapy for cancer treatment.
Researchers developed a heat-adjusting material inspired by squid skin, allowing for user-adjusted warmth and breathability. The fabric is breathable, washable, and can be integrated into flexible clothing, making it suitable for cold weather applications.
Rice engineers developed a new synthesis strategy for covalent organic frameworks (COFs) that can be used to trap gases, filter water and speed up chemical reactions. The approach enables faster production of COFs with superior crystallinity and high efficiency in breaking down harmful chemicals.
A team of researchers from the University of Washington has developed a flexible pipe with an interior helical structure inspired by shark intestines, which can keep fluid flowing in one direction without flaps. The design rivaled and exceeded Tesla valves, a one-way fluid flow device invented over a century ago.
A new report by international experts urges a collective approach to tackle plastic pollution, citing over 7,000 research studies on microplastics. The need for global reduction in plastic production and emission of microplastic particles is emphasized to avoid irreversible environmental damage.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed nanoscale covalent organic frameworks (nCOFs) modified with peptides to treat triple-negative breast cancer. The COFs selectively release drug cargo within the acidic environment of tumors, improving treatment effectiveness and minimizing side effects.
The researchers synthesized supramolecular polymers with the ability to form larger complexes in response to external stimuli, which may shed light on biomolecular self-assembly and other ‘smart’ materials. The resulting shape of the assemblies can be controlled based on the concentration of a specific additive.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University found that foaming plastic carriers promote 44 times more biofilm formation, enhancing wastewater treatment. Adding waste biomass further improves performance, especially in nitrate removal during the moving bed biofilm reactor process.
Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science have designed a drug-carrying molecule that can slip past the lung's natural defenses. The nanocarrier, called PEG-BB, is shaped like a bottlebrush and mimics the properties of mucus, allowing it to move quickly through the airway.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a novel strategy to increase the efficiency of photopolymerization reactions by leveraging dynamic UV lighting. This technique produces heavier polymer chains with reduced energy consumption, offering potential for sustainable industrial processes and polymeric materials.
Researchers at Technical University of Denmark developed a new biopolymer, PAMA, derived from bacteria to heal tissue. The PAMA bactogel shows significant muscle regeneration properties and nearly 100% mechanical recovery in rats.
A new SERS microfluidic system was developed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University researchers, achieving a detection limit lower than 10 ppt of harmful substances. The system uses femtosecond laser-induced nanoparticle implantation into flexible substrate for sensitive and reusable microfluidics detection.
The new battery can capture oxygen from air and use it to oxidize zinc, creating a current of up to 1 volt. It powers an actuator, memristor, clock circuit, and sensors, making it ideal for robotics and medical applications.
Scientists have created a polymer that selectively attracts specific substances from solutions when electrically activated, opening the door to sustainable chemical separation. This breakthrough could minimize waste and benefit from renewable energy sources in industrial settings.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have demonstrated a technique for creating strain sensors that can function both in air and underwater. The sensors, called 'amphibious,' enable applications such as wildlife monitoring and biomedical research.
A new substrate material developed at MIT, University of Utah, and Meta enables not only the recycling of materials and components but also scalable manufacture of complex multilayered circuits. The material's design allows for easy processing and dissolving, making it suitable for recycling precious metals and microchips.
Researchers at Lehigh University use mayonnaise to simulate the phases of Rayleigh-Taylor instability in nuclear fusion, which could inform the design of future inertial confinement fusion processes. The team found that understanding the transition between elastic and stable plastic phases is critical for controlling the instability.
Researchers have successfully synthesized high-purity polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate using a novel method involving remote spark discharge treatment. This approach uses Tesla coil-generated monomer radicals as polymerization initiators, enabling external spark discharge treatment without a counter electrode.
A new study found that microplastics impact plant reproduction, while seawater flooding causes greater tissue death in coastal plants. Combining both stressors amplifies threats to ecosystem wellbeing.
A new 3D printing method developed by UC San Diego engineers uses a polymer ink and salt water solution to create solid structures with ease. The process is reversible, allowing the PNIPAM ink to be reused for further printing.
Research from the University of Illinois highlights the potential of organic nanozymes for broader applications beyond traditional uses of inorganic nanozymes. The development of sustainable, environmentally friendly materials offers a promising solution for various industries.
Researchers measured dielectric properties of 11 polyimides to establish correlation between molecular structure and dielectric behavior. The study revealed that higher fluorine content resulted in lower dielectric constant values, enabling potential applications for 6G technologies.
Scientists embedded gold nanorods in hydrogels that can contract when exposed to light and expand again upon removal. This expansion and contraction mechanism allows for remotely controlled actuators with endless design possibilities.
A UVA research team has developed biomaterials with controlled mechanical properties matching those of various human tissues, representing a significant leap in bioprinting technologies. Their unique digital assembly of spherical particles (DASP) technique can deposit particles of biomaterial in a supporting matrix to build 3D structur...
Scientists develop locally periodic honeycomb structure with ordered but non-periodic arrangements, exhibiting properties distinct from usual periodic crystals. The study highlights the effectiveness of aperiodic approximants in inducing modulations within self-assembled soft-matter systems.
Researchers found that a 10-nanometer-sized nanoruler achieves the highest brain tumor accumulation, outperforming larger sizes. This discovery offers guidance for designing future brain tumor nanomedicines.
A joint research team from DGIST and POSTECH has developed a next-generation stretchable electronic component that maintains performance even under deformation or external impacts. The technology enables stable electrical functionality in various industries, such as displays, healthcare, and wearables.
A team of researchers from Tokyo Tech proposes a new signal-amplification system utilizing sumanene-based supramolecular polymers, exhibiting exceptional signal amplification through dynamic allosteric manipulation. The system's sensitivity was demonstrated with a 62.5-fold signal amplification of steroid molecules.
Researchers developed a novel method to estimate modulation amplitude and determine spatial resolution in Brillouin optical correlation-domain reflectometry (BOCDR) without costly equipment. This innovation simplifies the process, reducing costs and enhancing convenience.
Researchers at MIT develop a glassy, amber-like polymer that can store DNA at room temperature while protecting the molecules from damage caused by heat or water. The T-REX method allows easy removal of DNA without damaging it, making it a promising technology for storing digital information on DNA.
Scientists aim to create a spray-on bandage that breaks down within 48 hours, providing time for proper treatment. The project uses enzymes to degrade polymer complexes, which will allow for controlled degradation and potential applications in drug delivery.
A new study found that biodegradable teabags made from polylactic acid (PLA) can take years to break down in soil and cause harm to earthworms. The research highlights the need for clear disposal information on product packaging, as many manufacturers are not providing accurate guidance.
Researchers developed adhesive hydrogel coatings that eliminate fibrosis, a common issue with medical implants. The coatings bind devices to tissue and prevent the immune system from attacking them.
Engineers have modelled a new way to recycle polystyrene that could make the material reusable. The technique uses pyrolysis to break down polystyrene into parts that can be reformed into new pieces of the material, reducing energy consumption and increasing yield.
Researchers aim to create polymers that can form the basis of effective sensors for applications in physiological, environmental, and Internet of Things monitoring. The goal is to increase energy efficiency and broaden material choices, enabling devices to operate at low voltage and interact with ions and transport ionic charges.
A new detector system uses a combination of metal-organic frameworks and conductive polymers to provide continuous monitoring of toxic gases. The material shows high sensitivity and reversibility, enabling detection at low concentrations, making it suitable for industrial or home settings.
A Binghamton University professor investigates the adaptive response of fire ant rafts to mechanical load, discovering that they exhibit catch bond behavior under force, which enhances cohesion for survival. This phenomenon is being explored to develop artificial materials with autonomous self-strengthening properties.
Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a three-stage process to convert polyethylene (PE) into biodegradable polyester, addressing the issue of plastic waste. The method utilizes enzymes, microorganisms, and chemical processes to break down PE's strong carbon bonds.
Researchers use carbon nanotubes to prevent cracking in multilayered composites, improving resistance by up to 60%. This innovation could lead to safer and more durable aircraft with advanced composite materials.
A new paper by University of Illinois researchers explores the science behind selectivity preferences of monovalent and divalent anions towards redox polymers. They found that solvation plays a role in determining selectivity, and that hydrophobic polymers prefer less solvated anions.
New study uses high-powered microscopy and mathematical theory to unveil nanoscale voids in three dimensions. The findings show a strong correlation between unique physical properties of random empty space and improved filtration performance.
Researchers have developed a new dural repair solution using a multi-functional biomaterial that addresses key limitations of current methods. The 'Dural Tough Adhesive' (DTA) performed better than currently used surgical sealants in tests using animal models and human-derived tissues.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have created a highly stretchable sensor that can monitor and transmit plant growth information without human intervention. The sensor is resilient to humidity and temperature and can send a wireless signal to a remote monitoring location.
Researchers at MIT developed GastroShield, a sprayable gel that prevents bleeding and leakage from weakened gastrointestinal tissues during endoscopic procedures. The gel forms a protective layer that reinforces tissue integrity and promotes healing.
Researchers at UNIST have developed a groundbreaking technology that enables the real-time display of colors and shapes through changes in nanostructures. Utilizing block copolymers, they achieved the self-assembly of photonic crystal structures on a large scale, mimicking natural phenomena observed in butterfly wings and bird feathers.
A team of researchers created an optical display technology using afterglow luminescent particles, enabling writing and erasure of messages underwater. The device exhibits resistance to humidity and maintains functionality even when submerged for prolonged periods.
Researchers developed protein-based microcapsules to enhance aptamer sensors, enabling direct detection of target molecules in biological samples. The system demonstrates robust protection against harmful proteins and simultaneous real-time sensing of multiple targets.
Researchers have created a galvanized steel coating that reduces corrosion and prevents bacterial growth, improving food safety. The coating decreases bacterial strains over seven days and can be used on grain storage silos and other food-related storage units.
A research team at KTH Royal Institute of Technology developed a simple technique for fabricating electrochemical transistors using standard 3D microprinters, enabling fast prototyping and scaling of bioelectronic devices. The method replaces time-consuming processes requiring expensive cleanroom environments.