All articles tagged with #hydrogel
US researchers encapsulated the bioluminescent alga Pyrocystis lunula in a hydrogel and used 3D printing to create glowing shapes. Exposing the algae to a mildly acidic solution triggers light production for up to about 25 minutes, producing a cyan glow suitable for applications like glow devices or biosensors, though real-world use and the algae’s survivability under acidity remain challenges.
Scientists have created a 3D-printed hydrogel embedded with cyanobacteria that can grow, sequester CO2, and precipitate calcium carbonate to potentially reinforce structures. Lab data over 400 days show cumulative CO2 capture of 26 ± 7 mg per gram of hydrogel (with 2.2 ± 0.9 mg/g in the first 30 days); the material remains viable under light and nutrient conditions and can be printed for architectural scale. An installation at the Venice Biennale demonstrates the concept in practice, but the researchers caution that at current scales the climate impact is uncertain and long-term (decades) performance remains to be proven, with the material’s efficiency limited by light access and maintenance needs.
A KAIST team has developed AGCL, a sprayable powder that instantly gels on contact with blood to seal wounds in one second, outperforming current hemostats in mouse models, and offering durable, antibacterial, and tissue-healing benefits for battlefield and civilian use.
Researchers fabricate 2–10 μm-diameter, 18–90 μm-tall acrylic-acid-co-acrylamide hydrogel microcilia with nanometre-scale porosity using two-photon printing and surround them with microelectrodes. Under a 1.5 V field, ion migration within the hydrogel (H+ in DI water; Na+ in saline) drives rapid, millisecond bending, enabling 3D reprogrammable motions (bending and rotation) and controllable fluid flows. Demonstrations include scalable arrays (up to 25×25 cilia), metachronal-like coordination, and integration on flexible substrates, with durability up to 330,000 actuation cycles. The work promises advanced microscale fluid manipulation, microrobotics and bioinspired devices in complex ionic environments.
Swiss researchers have developed a novel method of 'cultivating' metal by infusing a hydrogel framework with metal salts and chemically converting them into dense, high-strength metal structures, which are significantly stronger and less shrinkage-prone than traditional 3D printed metals, with promising applications in energy and biomedical fields.
Scientists at the University of Utah have developed a living hydrogel from the soil fungus Marquandomyces marquandii, which could potentially be used for wound healing and tissue regeneration due to its multilayered, water-retaining, and biocompatible properties, marking a significant step toward bio-integrated medical materials.
MIT engineers developed a black 'bubble wrap' hydrogel-based atmospheric water harvester that can extract over 50 milliliters of safe drinking water per day in extreme conditions like Death Valley, offering a scalable solution to address global water scarcity, especially in arid regions.
MIT researchers have developed a high-tech 'bubble wrap' that can extract safe drinking water from air, even in extremely dry environments like Death Valley, using a hydrogel-based system that absorbs water vapor at night and condenses it during the day, with minimal energy and safe for drinking due to reduced lithium salt leakage.
Researchers at NIST have developed a technique using the magnetometer in smartphones to measure blood glucose levels with high accuracy. By attaching a tiny well containing a solution and a strip of hydrogel to a cellphone, they were able to detect changes in magnetic field strength caused by the hydrogel's reaction to glucose or pH levels. This low-cost method could lead to the development of inexpensive glucose testing kits that can be attached to smartphones, potentially revolutionizing at-home blood glucose monitoring.
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have developed a technique that utilizes an ordinary cellphone magnetometer to measure the concentration of glucose and other biomedical properties with high accuracy. By using magnetic materials designed to react to biological or environmental cues, the method has the potential to rapidly and inexpensively measure various compounds important for human health, such as glucose and pH levels. The technique could enable routine testing for glucose in saliva and has the potential to detect environmental toxins. The researchers' proof-of-concept study was published in Nature Communications.
Stanford engineers have developed a groundbreaking hydrogel drug delivery system that allows GLP-1 drugs, used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and weight control, to be administered just three times a year instead of daily or weekly injections. The hydrogel slowly releases the drugs over a four-month period, improving patient compliance and long-term health outcomes. The system has shown promising results in laboratory rats and could potentially be applied to other drugs and conditions. Human clinical trials are expected within the next two years.
Stanford researchers have developed a hydrogel-based delivery system that slowly releases drugs over months to control diabetes and weight. The hydrogel, infused with glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) molecules, is injected under the skin and dissolves over time, providing an extended release of the drug. In tests on rats with type 2 diabetes, injections of the drug-loaded hydrogel every 42 days resulted in better blood glucose and weight management compared to daily shots. The researchers aim to conduct further tests in pigs before moving on to human trials, potentially offering a more convenient treatment option for diabetes patients.
MIT scientists have discovered that light can cause evaporation at a rate exceeding what is possible with heat alone, particularly in hydrogel-bound water. This "photomolecular effect" could revolutionize solar desalination and climate modeling, potentially tripling water production in desalination processes and advancing solar cooling technologies. The researchers found that light, specifically green light, can directly bring about evaporation without the need for heat, and it does so even more efficiently than heat. This discovery could have implications for fog and cloud formation, as well as industrial processes such as solar-powered desalination. The researchers are now exploring applications of this phenomenon and collaborating with other groups to replicate their findings.
Researchers have developed an injectable tissue prosthesis composed of a biocompatible hydrogel with bidirectional electrical conduction, allowing for closed-loop robot-assisted rehabilitation. The prosthesis, which can be injected onto rough, narrow, or deep tissue surfaces, has been successfully demonstrated in rats with severe muscle injury, leading to accelerated tissue repair. This breakthrough could have significant implications for the field of rehabilitation and tissue repair.
Researchers at MIT have discovered that under certain conditions, light can directly cause water to evaporate without the need for heat, and it does so even more efficiently than heat. This surprising finding could have implications for various applications, including desalination, fog and cloud formation, and industrial processes. The researchers suggest that this phenomenon, which they call the photomolecular effect, could potentially lead to more efficient solar-powered desalination systems and cheap desalination methods. They are also exploring its potential use in evaporative cooling processes and its effects on climate change modeling.