Articles tagged with Hydrogels
A team of researchers from the University of Oklahoma and Yale University has developed a super-resolution imaging platform technology to visualize nanoparticles within cells. The technique, called expansion microscopy, enables 3-D imaging with resolutions as low as 10 nanometers, allowing for safer and more efficient nanomedicines.
A sustainable, insoluble, and chiral photonic cellulose nanocrystal patch enables calcium ion (Ca2+) sensing in sweat. The researchers developed a simple method to fabricate CNC-based hydrogels, which exhibit freeze resistance, strong adhesion, good biocompatibility, and high sensitivity to Ca2+.
The Texas Heart Institute and The University of Texas at Austin receive a four-year, $2.37 million NIH grant to develop injectable hydrogel electrodes for preventing and managing ventricular arrhythmias. Researchers have already demonstrated the feasibility of pacing the heart using the hydrogel in a porcine model.
A research team from HKU has developed a new type of electroconductive hydrogels with outstanding mechanical strength and manufacturability, enabling various bioelectronic devices. The material shows high electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, making it suitable for applications such as neural prosthetics and cardiac patches.
A team of researchers has created a touch-responsive fabric armband that can be used as a keyboard or sketchpad. The device uses a pressure-sensitive hydrogel sandwiched between layers of knit silk to interpret user input, allowing for real-time writing and gaming on computers.
A new type of floatable photocatalytic platform composed of hydrogel nanocomposites efficiently proceeds hydrogen evolution reaction. The platform exhibits clear advantages over conventional systems, including efficient solar energy conversion and easy gas diffusion.
Scientists have identified a novel mechanism of gel formation in synthetic polymers, which leads to the creation of worm-like structures. This breakthrough has significant implications for biofabrication and could lead to the development of new medical implants, contact lenses, and other applications.
The study developed conductive hydrogels with high sensing performance, excellent stretchability, and tensile strength, thanks to the use of cationic cellulose nanofiber-dispersed liquid metal. The hydrogels demonstrated a very high sensing sensitivity and good repeatability and durability.
Researchers developed tendon-mimetic hydrogels with outstanding mechanical properties, including excellent Young's modulus and strength, by mixing aramid nanofibers with polyvinyl alcohol. These hydrogels show promising capabilities for tissue repair and implantable medical devices.
Researchers discovered a hydrogel material that maintains its ability to absorb moisture despite rising temperatures, contradicting intuition. The material, polyethylene glycol (PEG), doubles its water absorption between 25-50 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for passive cooling and water harvesting applications.
Scientists discovered a way to regulate the mechanical strength and recoverability of peptide hydrogels by manipulating incubation temperature and time. By controlling droplet formation, they created fibril networks with optimal properties for various applications.
Scientists discover carbonated water's impact on low-methoxy pectin hydrogel formation and properties. The study shows that CO2 from carbonated water increases mechanical strength and gelation rate of hydrogels.
Researchers at RIKEN have created a composite material that can channel mechanical energy in one direction but not the other, allowing for efficient use of random vibrations. This property is essential for various biological functions and has potential applications in electronics, photonics, magnetism, and sound.
Scientists at RIKEN have developed a new technique for creating complex 3D organoids using a cube-like structure made of hydrogels. This innovation enables researchers to control the environment around cells, allowing for the creation of tissues with faithful reproduction of asymmetric genetic expression. The technology has the potenti...
Scientists developed an injectable biomaterial with improved adhesion, stretchability, and toughness, making it ideal for surgical wound sealing. The material showed superior adhesive strength, stability, and biocompatibility in physiological conditions.
Researchers at Pusan National University have created a portable molecular sensor that detects biogenic amines released from spoiled food using polydiacetylene-based beads. The sensor, which changes color to red upon binding with BAs, can be used for rapid visual detection of spoiled food during storage and distribution.
Researchers used a biomimetic model to study wound healing in burn and laceration wounds. Fibroblasts were found to clear away damaged tissue before depositing new material, but this process was slower in burn wounds due to more tissue damage. Therapies that promote wound clearance could accelerate healing.
Researchers developed a hydrogel-based sensor to monitor overactive bladder activity in real-time. The sensor measures both mechanical and bioelectrical activities, allowing for simultaneous monitoring and neural stimulation. This breakthrough has the potential to improve treatment outcomes and minimize side effects.
Researchers have developed a new 'hybrid' hydrogel that safely delivers stem cells to damaged brain tissue, repairing injuries in mice. The breakthrough solves a long-standing challenge and paves the way for potential treatments beyond the brain.
Researchers at Hokkaido University used hydrogel materials in combination with neural stem cells to grow new brain tissue in areas of brain damage. The study showed that immune cells and blood vessels grew within the hydrogels, leading to some degree of integration between the hydrogel and host brain tissue.
Researchers have developed an inhalable powder called SHIELD that reduces infection in mouse and non-human primate models by reinforcing the body's mucosal layer. The powder is composed of food-grade materials and biodegrades over a 48-hour period, providing protection for up to 8 hours.
Researchers have developed a new synthetic skin, made of hydrogels, to study how mosquitoes transmit deadly diseases. The hydrogel system can mimic different blood vessel patterns, allowing for more consistent testing and analysis. This breakthrough may help identify ways to prevent the spread of disease.
A new biomaterial platform mimics human skin to analyze mosquito feeding behavior, using machine learning models and video monitoring. The results show an average precision of 92.5%, with potential applications for developing more effective repellents to combat diseases.
Rice University researchers have developed an innovative system to study mosquito feeding behavior using fake skin made with a 3D printer, eliminating the need for live volunteers. The system was tested on various mosquito repellents and showed promising results, suggesting it could be scaled up for future studies.
A sunlight-powered porous hydrogel inspired by loofahs can rapidly absorb and release purified water. The material has the potential to meet a person's daily demand, regardless of light conditions.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new solar absorber gel technology that can filter pollutants from water, producing almost fourfold more filtration rate than its predecessor. The device can provide enough clean water to meet daily demand in many parts of the world.
Researchers have created a set of computational models to predict the structure, mechanical properties, and functional performance outcomes of granular hydrogels. The new framework could make it easier to design materials that can be injected for different types of applications.
A new antibacterial spray and coating can kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, reducing the risk of infection in wounds and medical devices. The innovative material has been shown to be effective against MRSA and other resistant bacteria, offering a promising solution to combat antibiotic resistance.
Researchers developed an injectable biomimetic hydrogel composite loaded with stem cells that promotes regenerative healing in animal models of Crohn's perianal fistulas. The treatment reduced fistula size by six-fold compared to surgery, offering a potential new paradigm for treating this condition.
Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a hybrid hydrogel combining natural squid tissues with synthetic polymers, exhibiting hierarchical anisotropy and toughness.
Engineers create OCTOPUS device to grow organs-in-a-dish, achieving higher levels of maturity than traditional methods. The device allows for more mature organs with complex cell relationships, providing valuable tools for studying human organ development.
Researchers developed an injectable hydrogel that inhibits common bacteria and promotes tissue regrowth, treating infections around prosthetics. The gel has a porous structure, excellent injectability, and rapid self-healing properties.
A new type of electrically conductive hydrogel scaffold has been developed to support brain cell growth and differentiation. The scaffold mimics the soft conditions of brain tissue and enables the creation of implantable biohybrid BCIs that integrate with a patient's brain tissue.
New expansion microscopy methods, dubbed Magnify, allow researchers to observe nanoscale biological structures with standard microscopes. The protocol retains biomolecules intact, enabling simultaneous imaging of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates.
A team of researchers has created a new method for fabricating nanodevices by shrinking hydrogels to create 3D patterns. This technique uses ultrafast two-photon lithography and can produce high-resolution patterns up to 13 times larger than the original size, enabling the creation of complex nanostructures.
Researchers have created a hydrogel-based material that can absorb up to three times more water-based liquid than traditional paper towels. The gel sheets also show promise in absorbing thick liquids, such as blood and syrup, with high efficiency and stability.
A team of scientists from TIBI, UIC, and POSTECH has elucidated key points on how cartilage generation is facilitated and alternative bone formation can be avoided. They found optimal conditions for better cartilage regeneration while reducing excessive cartilage formation using human mesenchymal stem cells.
A new injectable hydrogel has been developed to rapidly stop bleeding from traumatic wounds. The material becomes solid when injected into the body and can be easily washed away with a cold saline solution.
Researchers at UNSW Sydney have successfully induced a gastrulation-like event in human pluripotent stem cells, mimicking the early stages of embryonic development. This breakthrough could lead to new approaches for studying human development and creating personalized body tissue or organs using hydrogel materials.
A new method for creating freestanding hydrogel lumens that can accurately replicate blood vessels and facilitate vasodilation research. This approach allows researchers to study vasodilation in a more efficient and effective manner, overcoming limitations of existing methods.
Researchers developed a customizable, strontium-loaded scaffold that promotes wound healing by stimulating gingival fibroblast activity. The scaffold increased cellular activity of isolated cells while showing minimal toxicity over four days.
Researchers from City University of Hong Kong developed a new ultra-stable hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalyst based on two-dimensional mineral gel nanosheets. The catalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity and long-term durability, with an overpotential of only 38.5 mV at 10 mA cm−2.
A new non-hormonal gel blocks sperm by reinforcing cervical mucus barrier, demonstrating high effectiveness in reducing uterine sperm numbers. The gel has shown a 98% average decrease in sperm numbers compared to untreated control animals, making it a promising alternative to existing contraceptives.
Scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have created alginate hydrogels that can endure the growth of bacteria, allowing them to synthesize essential enzymes. The modified hydrogels provided a stable platform for bacterial colonies to form and grow, producing important compounds like nisin.
A new injectable hydrogel has been developed with enhanced shear-thinning properties, improved cellular biocompatibility, and significantly reduced clotting times. The biomaterial was created by adding sodium phytate to a gelatin-based compound, promoting even greater cohesion and triggering the initiation of blood coagulation.
Researchers have discovered a new process that uses fuel to control non-living materials, similar to living cells. This breakthrough enables the creation of soft robots that can sense their environment and respond accordingly.
Researchers at CÚRAM developed an interdisciplinary framework to characterize ECM-based hydrogels, providing a concise guide for chemists, material scientists, and biologists. The review aims to bridge the gap between material science and biomedicine, facilitating further interdisciplinary work to create solutions for chronic illnesses.
Researchers at UNIST developed superaerophobic polyethyleneimine hydrogels to improve electrochemical hydrogen production by promoting bubble detachment. These hydrogels can be easily coated on electrodes, allowing for controlled pore size and porosity, leading to enhanced performance.
Scientists at Osaka University have created a new material that could replace traditional plastics with a sustainable, biodegradable alternative. The cellulose nanofibers were engineered to exhibit direction-dependent properties, allowing for facile molding into complex structures such as microneedles and bio/nanotechnology architectures.
A Princeton team invented a way to observe bacteria in 3D environments, finding that colonies consistently form intricate, branching shapes resembling broccoli. They discovered two factors causing these shapes: nutrient and oxygen availability, and the colony's internal structure.
A German Research Foundation-funded research unit is developing switchable polymer gels for biomaterial applications, including tissues for biotechnological or biomedical uses. The team has successfully explored the nature of amphiphilic co-networks and will now focus on material design.
Scientists explore the dynamics of soft materials like toothpaste and hair gel using X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS). The technique reveals microscopic dynamics and helps understand properties like viscosity and elasticity. Insights gained can aid in designing consumer products, nanotechnologies, and drug delivery systems.
A new, dissolvable hydrogel developed by Mass General Hospital promotes wound healing for second-degree burns while minimizing pain and trauma. The biomaterial is highly absorbent, based on green chemistry approaches, and can be dissolved in under five minutes.
Researchers have developed an injectable shear-thinning hydrogel that exhibits enhanced cohesive strength, resisting fragmentation even under pulsating liquid flows. The gel, similar to toothpaste, retains its structure when force is removed, making it a potential breakthrough in treating critical vascular conditions.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are developing a new wound dressing to overcome obstacles to healing in people with diabetes, including chronic inflammation and delayed growth of new blood vessels.
Researchers developed a novel nanoengineered granular hydrogel bioink for 3D-extrusion bioprinting of tissue engineering microporous scaffolds. The approach addresses limitations of conventional bulk hydrogel bioinks, achieving previously unattained levels of porosity, shape fidelity and cell integration.
Researchers at Washington University have developed a hydrogel system that preserves biochemistry and mechanical environments of cultured podocyte cells. This allows researchers to identify new ways to control mechanisms used by cells to heal themselves, potentially leading to therapies for currently incurable diseases.
Researchers at NUS developed a self-charging fabric-based 'battery' that can generate electricity from air moisture using sea salt as an absorbent. The device provides higher electrical output than conventional AA batteries and has long-lasting performance.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a method to create a three-dimensional gel from spider silk proteins that can be designed to deliver functional proteins. The gel has the potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine, enabling controlled drug release and tissue engineering applications.
Researchers at Duke University have created a lab-made cartilage substitute that is stronger and more durable than natural cartilage. The hydrogel material can withstand even more stress from pulling and squishing, with improved strength and durability compared to previous methods.