Biomaterials

By Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard March 20, 2024This illustration highlights how two hydrogels (shown in blue) can be bonded in different ways by thin chitosan films (shown in orange). The bonds that form are extraordinarily strong and can resist high tensions. Credit: Peter Allen, Ryan Allen, and James C. Weaver.A novel technique for the quick and efficient bonding of hydrogels offers the potential to significantly propel forward the development of new biomaterials, addressing a wide…

Glutenin, a wheat protein, shows promise for lab-grown meat production by supporting the cultivation of muscle and fat layers that mimic real meat’s texture and composition, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional meat as the global population increases.As the global population grows, lab-grown meat, which consists of animal muscle and fat cells cultivated in lab settings, presents a promising solution to meet the rising demand for protein. Additionally, affordable plant proteins could serve as a foundation for…

Gas-entrapping foam infused with carbon monoxide enhances the anti-cancer activity of autophagy inhibitors, which may help improve therapies for many different cancers. Credit: University of Iowa Health CareDid smokers do better than non-smokers in a clinical trial for an experimental cancer treatment? That was the intriguing question that led University of Iowa researchers and their colleagues to develop a drinkable, carbon monoxide-infused foam that boosted the effectiveness of the therapy, known as autophagy…

The simulation shows the decahedra packing together into a quasicrystalline structure on the left, with a diagram of the structure on the right. Credit: Glotzer group, University of Michigan.The breakthrough paves the way for the design and construction of more complex structures.Nanoengineers have created a quasicrystal—a scientifically intriguing and technologically promising material structure—from nanoparticles using DNA, the molecule that encodes life. The team, led by researchers at Northwestern University, the…

<!----> Samyang’s Chemicals Research Centre in Daedok, South Korea South Korea’s Samyang Corporation has joined forces with local technology company Nano Tim to collaborate in the development of eco-friendly automotive component, including thermal interface materials (TIM) for use in…

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“Self-healed surface of a model car after scratching when exposed to focused sunlight with a magnifying glass (upper) or to sunlight directly (down).”Image: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT)Like a screen protector for your entire car, a new protective coating developed by researchers at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology could actually go one step further than the plastic films you apply to your smartphone’s display. When exposed to the sun, it’s able to heal itself, making scratches…