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.
Researchers have developed an immunity-boosting postoperative treatment that could prevent glioblastoma relapse by targeting cancer stem cells with nanoparticles. The injectable gel promotes the cancer-killing immune response and reduces toxic side effects.
A new hydrogel-based platform increases vaccine thermal stability, enabling distribution in diverse regions without strict temperature control. The technology has the potential to reduce economic costs and health risks associated with cold chain logistics.
Researchers develop a safe and effective way to whiten teeth without damaging enamel, breaking apart cavity-forming biofilms. The treatment uses a hydrogel activated by green light to kill 94% of bacteria in biofilms and prevent cavities from forming on teeth.
The new ultrasound sticker uses a stretchy adhesive layer and rigid array of transducers to produce higher resolution images over a longer duration. It has potential applications in clinical diagnosis and could be made into wearable imaging products that patients can take home or buy at a pharmacy.
Biomedical engineers have created a novel 3D synthetic structure that mimics the extracellular matrix, guiding neural progenitor cells and promoting their differentiation. The results show promise for developing brain-healing treatments, including biogels that can repair and regrow brain tissue after a stroke or other trauma.
Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology accidentally discovered that adding more water to a liquid solution turns it back into a gel, and then further dilution forms another gel. The team's findings have significant implications for various fields in chemistry and biology.
Researchers created a new gel that can protect fragile objects like eggs by adding starch to gelatin, reducing impact force up to 15%. The gel's flexibility and impact absorption make it suitable for sports equipment, defense materials, and packaging.
A NJIT-led team has created an injectable hydrogel designed to recruit dental pulp stem cells and promote tissue growth in teeth after a root canal. The therapy mimics the body's natural growth factor signaling, promoting healing and regeneration of lost tooth pulp.
A small study found that an experimental hydrogel injection into spinal discs significantly reduced chronic low back pain and improved physical function. The gel, known as Hydrafil, is easy to administer with no open surgery required, offering a promising treatment for degenerative disc disease.
Researchers developed a method to create conductive hydrogels using laser-induced phase separation, allowing for safe neural electrode implantation. The process enables precise reading of neural signals and electrical stimulation while minimizing immune response.
A physicist at TU Graz has developed a three-in-one hybrid material that reacts to force, moisture and temperature with high spatial resolution. The smart skin has potential applications in robotics, smart prosthetics and healthcare, and its production can be easily scaled and implemented.
Researchers at UBC create ionic skins made of flexible hydrogels that use ions to carry an electrical charge. These hydrogels can generate voltages when touched, producing a piezoionic effect that allows them to detect pressure and other stimuli. The technology has potential applications in prosthetics, wearable sensors, and body impla...
University of Virginia professor Rachel Letteri's lab designs polymers for healthcare applications, using peptide fragments to create hydrogels with tunable stiffness and lifespan. The team aims to develop materials that can support cell growth and guide tissue regeneration, with potential applications in regenerative medicine.
Scientists at Wuhan University developed a non-contact optical characterization method to detect negative water pressure in microfluidic systems. By analyzing the deformation of hydrogel surfaces, they derived the exact value of negative pressure. This innovation has potential applications in mapping dynamic flow and heat transfer.
Researchers have developed an eco-friendly and reusable solution for removing toxic synthetic dyes from wastewater using nanocomposite-based hydrogels. The new material, made from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and graphene oxide, demonstrates high adsorption capacities and retains its effectiveness even after multiple cycles of use.
Researchers at UC Riverside have discovered that curcumin promotes vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion, helping to grow engineered blood vessels and tissues. The study uses magnetic hydrogels coated with curcumin-coated nanoparticles, which gradually release the compound without injuring cells.
Scientists at the University of Illinois Chicago have created a new family of environmentally safe, frost-resistant coatings that can delay the formation of frost for extended hours. These coatings can be applied to various surfaces without preconditioning or expensive surface treatments, reducing pollution and ice-related problems.
Researchers from NUS developed a novel super-hygroscopic material to enhance sweat evaporation and reduce heat stress in personal protective suits. The film brings down the heat index by about 40%, significantly improving thermal comfort for users like healthcare workers.
Scientists in Saudi Arabia developed a solar-driven system that uses hydrogel to condense water from air while generating electricity. The system successfully grew spinach in a hot climate, producing over 2 liters of water and 1,519 watt-hours of electricity.
Researchers have developed a hydrogel that can absorb and retain water when combined with a hygroscopic salt, extracting almost six liters of pure water per kilo of material in 24 hours. This technology could play a fundamental role in recovering atmospheric water in drought-stricken regions.
SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 28, 2022
Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology created a 3D model of living brain cancer using cavitation molding technique. The model closely replicates human tissue and maintains cell viability, making it suitable for drug screening.
The BRIGHTER project develops a new 3D bioprinting technology that creates complex and accurate human tissues, reducing the need for animal models. The technology uses light-sheet lithography to fabricate human skin and other tissues with high resolution and accuracy.
Researchers create a sticky patch that can seal large tears and punctures in the colon, stomach, and intestines of animal models without causing inflammation or sticking to surrounding tissues. The patch is designed to be biocompatible, flexible, and holds for over a month.
Researchers used microscopic strands of DNA to guide the assembly of gel blocks that self-assembled in around 10-15 minutes. The process was highly specific and easily programmable, allowing the blocks to interact with each other in different ways by changing the sequence of DNA.
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University have developed a novel therapeutic approach to tackle obesity, reducing body fat and improving blood markers through a hydrogel injection and near infrared light treatment. The treatment shows significant promise in lab trials, with mice experiencing reduced body mass and improved metabolism.
Researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry have observed the coil-to-globule transition in hydrogels for the first time, showing how temperature changes trigger a sudden collapse of polymer chains. This discovery has implications for smart materials and their applications in fields like medicine and engineering.
Researchers use matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) to track injected collagen in the heart. The technique allows for precise detection of therapeutic peptides and their distribution in the myocardial infarct.
A new wearable sensor has been developed using MXene nanomaterials that can detect changes in pH levels in sweat, which correlate with muscle fatigue. The device measures electrical resistance patterns in response to mechanical stress and pH changes.
Researchers developed an injectable, adhesive surgical gel that prevents postoperative adhesions and improves wound healing. The gel, dubbed HAD, was tested in rats and rabbits with promising results, showing a significant reduction in inflammation and mortality rates.
Scientists at Tokyo University of Science have developed a novel polymer-based hydrogel that can prevent postoperative pancreatic fistulae, a frequent complication of pancreatic surgery. The Exceval hydrogel shows great promise for clinical applications due to its adjustable properties and high absorption abilities.
Researchers at McGill University create injectable hydrogel that forms stable structure allowing cells to grow and repair injured organs. The material's toughness and porosity make it suitable for heart, muscle, and vocal cord repair.
A simple change in the way donor cells are processed can maximize a single cell's production of extracellular vesicles, which are small nanoparticles naturally secreted by cells. The finding offers new avenues for research around cellular therapies, where transplanted cells are used to help the body heal or work better.
A team at the University of Cambridge created a jelly-like material that can withstand compression forces equivalent to an elephant, while maintaining its original shape. The material's properties are seemingly contradictory, but can be controlled through changing the chemical structure of guest molecules.
A new hydrogel treatment kills drug-resistant bacteria, including MRSA, and induces the expression of naturally-existing antimicrobial peptides in human skin cells. The gel is non-toxic, biodegradable, and scalable.
Researchers at University of Texas at Austin created hydrogel tablet that can rapidly purify contaminated water, making it suitable for drinking in an hour or less. The tablets generate hydrogen peroxide to neutralize bacteria with an efficiency rate of over 99.999%, requiring zero energy input and no harmful byproducts.
Researchers developed avidin-conjugated nanocellulose, enabling attachment of biotinylated molecules and promoting 3D cell culture. The material supports efficient integrin signaling and high cell viability, indicating its suitability for applications like cell differentiation and tissue engineering.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) has developed a Fluid-supported Liquid Interface Polymerization (FLIP) 3D printer that can rapidly print hydrogel structures with complex geometry. This approach addresses the key nutrient supply issue in bioprinting, enabling the rapid fabrication of complex geometrical shapes.
A team of scientists at McGill University has invented a smart device for personalized skin care inspired by the male diving beetle. The device collects and monitors body fluids while sticking to the skin's surface, paving the way for more accurate diagnostics and treatment for skin diseases like acne.
Researchers from Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation develop methods to enhance mechanical properties of hydrogels, including toughness, stretchiness, and adhesive strength. By introducing dopamine and alkaline conditions, they create gel-like materials with improved biocompatibility and regenerative capabilities.
Scientists create a cell culture system where blood vessels can grow within a framework made of synthetic materials. The team investigates material properties that promote blood vessel formation and refines the model to improve its performance, paving the way for growing implantable tissues.
Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine researchers have developed a new model for studying intestinal infections, using custom hydrogel-based platforms. The study found that softer hydrogels promote bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells, which is crucial for understanding the dynamics of infectious diseases.
A new study develops hydrogels that release glucagon as glucose levels drop, potentially preventing severe hypoglycemic episodes. The technology aims to stabilize blood glucose levels long enough for parents to get medical attention in emergency situations.
Scientists developed a hydrogel composite with zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks that rapidly breaks down organophosphate-based nerve agents. The composite shows high catalytic activity and maintains its effectiveness even after storage.