Articles tagged with Gels
Researchers discovered a new way in which ALS kills nerve cells by disrupting protein synthesis, highlighting the importance of RNA-binding proteins in disease progression. The study provides a potential key to treating both ALS and dementia.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology found that ants can flow like liquids when subjected to high pressure, but also exhibit springy behavior when probed at short times. This unique combination of properties allows ants to build bridges, span gaps, and even self-assemble into rafts to survive floodwaters.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a 3D bioprinting technique that can create intricate tissue models of the heart, brain, and other organs using biological materials. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new treatments for damaged organs, potentially eliminating the need for transplants.
Researchers at the University of Manchester and Nottingham are developing a gel that mimics human breast tissue, enabling the growth of breast cell models in the lab. This will help understand the influence of the breast matrix on breast cancer progression, potentially leading to new approaches to prevention and treatment.
A new method has been developed to standardize ratings of cohesivity for hyaluronic acid (HA) gel fillers, allowing plastic surgeons to choose the product best suited for each procedure. The Gavard-Sundaram scale provides a scientific rationale for selecting fillers with properties that match specific clinical objectives.
Research reveals alginate gel biofilms are highly dynamic and exchangeable, challenging previous assumptions about their structure. The findings may lead to new ways of modifying or disrupting these materials to combat bacterial infections in cystic fibrosis patients.
A new study by Aarhus University found that women undergoing fertility treatment can achieve similar pregnancy rates without daily hormonal vaginal gel, instead receiving a small injection of pregnancy-stimulating hormone HCG. This more natural treatment option reduces discomfort and side effects, providing a patient-friendly alternative.
Researchers develop a targeted hydrogel that binds to inflamed tissue, releasing medicine slowly over time. The gel reduces inflammation and minimizes systemic side effects in preclinical models of IBD.
A team of bioengineers at Brigham and Women's Hospital developed a new protein-based gel that mimics the properties of elastic tissue when exposed to light. The gel can be controlled in its swelling and strength, making it suitable for various applications such as regenerating cells or creating a barrier over wounds.
A new polymer-piezoelectric hybrid material has been designed to perform computations based on changes in the environment or movement, potentially responding to human vital signs. The material system is small and flexible, allowing it to be integrated into fabrics or shoes.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh designed a synthetic polymer gel that can change shape and move using its own internally generated power. The SP-BZ gel combines the properties of two materials to enable self-bending, folding, and self-propelled motion.
A novel, truly biocompatible alginate hydrogel has been developed using 'click chemistry' that can be synthesized quickly and reliably. The gel is designed to release drugs or cells in a controlled manner, making it suitable for applications such as wound healing and tumor treatment.
A University of Iowa team is working on a minimally invasive approach to repairing damaged cartilage and preventing osteoarthritis. They have created an injectable, bioactive hydrogel that encourages self-healing of cartilage damage.
Researchers at the University of Huddersfield have developed a special gel that delays the release of medication, ideal for administering to young children and the elderly. The gel-based medication consists of microscopic particles that solidify in the stomach, releasing the drug in the intestine over several hours.
A University of York student has helped develop a new drug release gel that may help avoid some of the side effects of painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen. The gel is based on small molecules that self-assemble into nanofibers, allowing for precise control over drug release.
Scientists have developed a new shape-shifting probe that can detect and measure localized conditions on the molecular scale deep within tissues. The device, called geometrically encoded magnetic sensors (GEMs), uses radio frequency signals to identify changes in resonance frequencies caused by shape-changing agents.
A new testosterone nasal gel has been shown to effectively raise men's low testosterone levels to normal, with minimal side effects. The medication was found to be most effective when administered three times a day, resulting in improved erectile function and mood.
A new type of self-healing hydrogel has been developed by MIT chemical engineers that can carry one or two drugs at a time. The gel consists of a mesh network made of nanoparticles and polymers that can be injected through a syringe and released over several days, targeting specific tissues and allowing for long-term drug delivery.
A Massachusetts General Hospital team has developed a method to protect insulin-producing islets from the immune system, enabling long-term blood sugar control without immunosuppression. The approach involves coating or encapsulating islets with CXCL12, a protein that repels immune cells and attracts regulatory T cells.
The VOICE trial found that women who used tenofovir gel had a lower risk of HIV, despite overall product non-adherence being high. Tenofovir gel reduced HIV risk by 14.7% for those who used it, but the study as a whole showed products were not effective in preventing HIV.
Researchers at MIT have developed a method to enlarge tissue samples by embedding them in an expandable polymer gel, making it easier to image large biological specimens with nanoscale resolution. This technique allows for the imaging of brain cells and mapping how they connect across large regions.
Researchers at University of Strathclyde and City University of New York have developed a screening method to accurately predict how peptides can combine to form stable gels. This breakthrough simplifies the discovery of functional gels for various applications, including food, cosmetics, and biomedicine.
The VOICE trial found that regular use of tenofovir gel reduced the risk of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) acquisition by 46 percent. Women who used the gel regularly were 20.2 percent likely to acquire HSV-2 compared to 11.6 percent among those who didn
Researchers at Emory University discovered that platelets can 'feel' their environment and respond by increasing stickiness, leading to the formation of clots. Modifying material stiffness could reduce clot formation in medical devices.
A study of over 4,000 UK women found that dry eye disease affects nearly one-tenth of the population, with symptoms worsening with age. The condition is linked to various health issues, including pain syndromes, autoimmune diseases, and fertility problems.
Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have developed the first innovative antibacterial gel that acts to kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococci, and E. coli using natural proteins. The gels target and break down biofilms, a thick jelly-like coating that makes bacteria resistant to current therapies.
A new skin gel form of tamoxifen has been developed and tested on women with non-invasive breast cancer, reducing cancer cell growth while minimizing side effects. The gel application was found to be effective in reducing blood clot risk associated with oral tamoxifen, offering a safer treatment option.
A start-up company at NJIT has developed a spray-on gel that can control bleeding during brain surgery, shortening procedure times by 30-45 minutes. The gel is made from natural materials and biocompatible, reducing the risk of infection and morbidity rates.
Researchers designed a way for gels to swim in water using a hand-held laser that shrinks and swells polymer gels. This advance may allow hydrogels to explore surface waters to combat toxic elements or travel within the human body.
A new method of wormlike motion allows gels to swim in water, expanding their potential applications as environmental and biotechnological tools. This breakthrough was achieved by a UC undergraduate student with the help of his advisers, enabling soft materials to explore new areas such as surface waters or cavities inside the human body.
Rotational X-ray tracking (RXT) measures slow dynamics in disordered systems, overcoming limitations of previous techniques. The new method reveals unique rotational motion and nanoscale elastic properties of gel networks.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed materials that can heal and regenerate, filling in large cracks and holes by regrowing material. This technology has the potential to transform commercial goods and aerospace applications, enabling self-repairing plastics with vascular networks filled with regenerative agents.
Researchers created a thermogelling hydrogel that turns from liquid to semisolid at body temperature and then degrades as new bone forms, filling the space left by the original gel.
A new microbicide gel has been found to prevent the transmission of HIV, herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), and human papillomavirus (HPV) in animal studies. The gel, MZC, contains two potent antiviral agents that are effective against multiple strains of HIV and have a window of efficacy of at least eight hours prior to exposure.
Researchers developed a hydrogel that delivers enzyme inhibitors to damaged heart tissue, minimizing long-term damage and improving heart function. The gel's responsive design allows it to release inhibitors in response to the activity level of the enzyme.
Researchers develop a sponge-like gel that compresses and induces transplanted cells to form minerals and begin tooth development. The bioinspired material could one day help repair or replace damaged organs, such as teeth and bone.
Two new HIV prevention products, a combination antiretroviral vaginal ring and a film releasing the drug dapivirine, show safety and hold promise for further development. The products aim to provide an array of options for women-initiated prevention tools against HIV.
A new analysis confirms that behavioral measures used in the VOICE study did not accurately predict women's use and nonuse of HIV prevention products. Biological measures, such as drug levels in stored samples, provided a more accurate picture of adherence.
CONRAD has been awarded the USAID Science and Technology Pioneers Prize for its work on the first vaginal gel proven to reduce HIV and HSV-2 infections. The gel, containing tenofovir, was tested on 889 women in South Africa and showed successful results.
Researchers at The City College of New York have successfully transformed vegetable oils into a semisolid form using low-calorie sugars as structuring agents. Mannitol dioctanoate and sorbitol dioctanoate gelators demonstrated excellent gelation tendencies for various oils, producing stable gels that can be used in food processing.
The Student DNA Barcoding Project is a flexible curriculum that uses student-generated research to teach about biodiversity, ecology and molecular biology. The project has been successfully used in New York City and Belize, with students exploring topics such as beetles, beehives, and conservation.
Scientists from KIT have created a stable porous gel coating, SURGEL, with adjustable properties using a metal-organic framework. This innovative material has potential in medical implants and pharmaceutical applications.
A study by Dr James Stratford and Dr Simon Park found that Bacillus mycoides responds to subtle changes in its environment, producing whirlpool-shaped structures in response to curved surfaces. The microbe's ability to respond to force could signal potential useful scientific applications.
Researchers have developed a hydrogel scaffold that solidifies into a gel at body temperature, providing a platform for functional and aesthetic tissue regeneration. The material is intended as an alternative to prefabricated implantable scaffolds and can be injected to the point of need.
Researchers create hybrid materials with nanorods to replicate biological tissue regeneration processes, sensing damage and regrowing components. The team aims to develop complex materials with multiple functions through future optimizations.
Researchers at University of Eastern Finland have created new materials with potential biomedical applications, including gelation tendencies and structures in pure water. These supramolecular gels may serve as substitutes to restore or maintain bone tissue function, acting as scaffolds for cell adhesion and proliferation.
Researchers developed a first-of-its-kind microbicide gel formulation that delivers antiviral products to both the vagina and rectum, showing promise for HIV prevention. The DuoGel contains IQP-0528 and has been shown to prevent HIV-1 infection in vaginal and rectal tissues.
CONRAD has developed a new intravaginal ring that combines contraception with HIV-1 and HSV-2 prevention, using levonorgestrel and tenofovir. The ring can remain in the vagina for up to 90 days and shows promising results in preventing infections.
A Phase II clinical trial is underway to test the safety and acceptability of a reduced glycerin gel formulation of tenofovir in preventing HIV transmission through unprotected anal sex. The study aims to determine whether rectal microbicides can be used as an additional tool to reduce HIV risk.
A study found that dextrose gel treatment can almost halve the likelihood of hypoglycaemia treatment failure in at-risk babies. Babies treated with dextrose gel were less likely to be admitted to intensive care and formula fed, reducing hospital admissions and costs.
A community of microscopic algae and bacteria thrives within Arctic and Antarctic pack ice, secreting large quantities of gels that affect the physical structure within the ice and how carbon travels to the ocean floor. The gels also influence weather patterns by acting as cloud condensing nuclei.
The Pitt research team demonstrated that hydrogels can be reconfigured and controlled by light, undergoing self-sustained motion. This biomimetic behavior has significant implications in the medical arena, potentially leading to new devices and technologies.
Researchers from University of California have found a way to improve cochlear implant functionality by inducing neurons to extend neurites towards the implant. This study published in Neural Regeneration Research, used soluble neurotrophins and collagen gels to grow cochlear neurites, increasing their numbers and length.
Researchers have developed a new biomaterial that can deliver reparative cells to the nucleus pulposus, or jelly-like cushion found between spinal discs. The gel mix holds cells in place upon injection and provides environmental cues to promote their persistence and biosynthesis.
A 2011 outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections at Beaumont Health System was attributed to contaminated ultrasound gel. The investigation highlighted the need for increased scrutiny of medical products and led to proposed guidelines for sterile ultrasound gel usage.
Researchers at UNIST developed a new physical organogel electrolyte with high ionic conductivity and cationic transference number, reducing the risk of explosive leakage in batteries. This breakthrough material enables safer and more efficient use of higher energy electrode materials.
Consumers tend to prefer products organized by benefits rather than features, as it leads to lower prices and perceived similarity. This can result in consumers sacrificing quality for price, but also makes it harder to notice differences between products.
A new study published in The Endocrine Society's Annual Meeting found that testosterone therapy improved verbal learning and memory in postmenopausal women compared to placebo. Testosterone levels increased with treatment but remained within normal female range, with no major side effects reported.
A study found that high levels of contractile stress in animal cells can lead to the formation of a condensed layer of filaments beneath the cell membrane. This new understanding provides insight into the cortical layer's structure and function.
Researchers developed an injectable nanogel that can monitor blood-sugar levels and secrete insulin in response, offering a potential solution to Type 1 diabetes. The system consists of nanoparticles with enzyme-loaded dextran spheres that release insulin when glucose levels are high.