How to make hydrogels more injectable
Gel-like materials that can be injected into the body hold great potential to heal injured tissues or manufacture entirely new tissues. Many researchers are working to develop these hydrogels for biomedical uses, but so far very few have made it into.....»»
Wound treatment hydrogel infused with amino acid kills bacteria naturally and promotes cell growth
Hydrogels are popular for use in skin ailments and tissue engineering. These polymer-based biocompatible materials are useful for their abilities to retain water, deliver drugs into wounds, and biodegrade. However, they are complicated to manufacture.....»»
The Next Generation of Cancer Drugs Will Be Made in Space
Injectable immunotherapy drugs can be made, in theory, but gravity prevents them from crystallizing correctly. A startup thinks the solution could be right above us......»»
Advancing tissue engineering with shape memory hydrogels
One of the primary goals in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is the development of artificial scaffolds that can serve as substitutes for damaged tissue. These materials must ideally resemble natural tissue and must have the.....»»
Scientists create method to bond hydrogels and other polymeric materials using chitosan
Hydrogels are versatile biomaterials conquering an increasing number of biomedical areas. Consisting of water-swollen molecular networks that can be tailored to mimic the mechanical and chemical features of various organs and tissues, they can interf.....»»
Computer-designed proteins allow for tunable hydrogels that can form both inside and outside of cells
When researchers want to study how COVID makes us sick, or what diseases such as Alzheimer's do to the body, one approach is to look at what's happening inside individual cells. Researchers sometimes grow the cells in a 3D scaffold called a "hydrogel.....»»
Blockbuster weight-loss drugs slashed from NC state plan over ballooning costs
The plan spent $102M on the weight-loss drugs last year, 10% of total drug costs. Enlarge / Wegovy is an injectable prescription weight loss medicine that has helped people with obesity. (credit: Getty | Michael Siluk).....»»
Scientists open door to achieving high-precision "slippery structural hydrogel"
Hydrogels inevitably undergo dehydration, structural collapse, and shrinkage deformation due to the uninterrupted evaporation in the atmosphere, thereby losing their flexibility, slipperyness, and manufacturing precision......»»
Unveiling the future of photonics: Hydrogel innovations pave the way
In a review published on 1 January 2024, in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering, researchers discuss hydrogels in photonics, highlighting their potential to revolutionize the field. The article emphasizes how hydrogels enable devices to adapt.....»»
Sustainable, more efficient synthesis route of hyaluronic acid polymers for biomedical applications
Hydrogels—polymer networks with high water content—can act as a tissue mimic, providing conditions for a viable culture of embedded cells, with various applications in biomedical engineering such as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine......»»
New study explores amino acid that turns into gel in water
Hydrogels, ubiquitous materials in our daily lives, are the focus of scientific research published in Chemistry—A European Journal. Conducted by the SupraBioNanoLab at the Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering Giulio Natta at.....»»
Exploring design rules for using supramolecular hydrogels to mimic the extracellular matrix
In human tissue, the cells are embedded in the extracellular matrix. This matrix is made up of fiber-like structures that provide firmness to the tissue, but also influence cell behavior and facilitate cell growth......»»
Obesity drug Wegovy reduces cardiovascular risks for those at high risk
The finding means 15 fewer cardiovascular events per 1,000 patients treated. Enlarge / Wegovy an injectable prescription weight loss medicine that has helped people with obesity. (credit: Getty | Michael Siluk) The blo.....»»
Scientists demonstrate the transport of light cargo using tethered and untethered soft robots made from hydrogels
A team of University of Waterloo researchers has created smart, advanced materials that will be the building blocks for a future generation of soft medical microrobots. They published their results in Nature Communications......»»
Redesigning hydrogels to shine a new light on cell responses in the body
Our cells have a complex relationship with the body's microenvironment. It has been studied in the lab, but, to date, most studies leave out dynamic changes to the microenvironment. In other words, they look at cell life in a static world......»»
A dynamic matrix with DNA-encoded viscoelasticity to support the development of organoids and other biological tissues
Over the past few decades, material scientists and chemists have been working on designing increasingly sophisticated materials for a wide range of technological and scientific applications. These materials include synthetic polymers and hydrogels th.....»»
Chemists develop unique design for tough but stretchable gels
Chenfeng Ke, an incoming associate professor of chemistry in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, developed a unique design for tough but stretchable hydrogels, reported Aug. 23 in the journal Chem. The new material is both flexible.....»»
New strategy using curcumin provides smart fluorescence for anti-counterfeiting
Stimuli-responsive fluorescent hydrogels (FHs) are excellent and attractive candidates for information encryption and anti-counterfeiting applications, which can allow the stored information to be visualized by a vibrant display with a higher degree.....»»
Recombinant and tunable spidroin hydrogels for drug release and cell culture
In a new study, researchers at Karolinska Institutet show that recombinant spider silk protein hydrogels have many attractive features. They allow encapsulation of cells and bioactive molecules simply by incubation at 37°C. They are transparent, whi.....»»
A Pill Version of Ozempic Is Coming
The injectable weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy are already popular. Oral forms could lead to even more demand......»»
Engineers develop electroconductive hydrogel for biomedical applications
Synthetic hydrogels show great promise in tissue repair, drug delivery, medical implants and many other applications. Hydrogels functionalized with electrically conductive components can be used in bioelectronic devices for cardiac or neural interfac.....»»