hydrogel

Although we've seen a number of systems that use sunlight to purify tainted water, their output is often quite limited. A new loofah-inspired hydrogel, however, uses sunlight to treat much more water in one go … enough to meet a person's daily needs.Existing solar-still-type systems use sunlight to heat dirty water to the point that it starts evaporating. The resulting pollutant-free water vapor condenses on a surface within the still, then trickles down into a collection reservoir. It's a clever setup, but it only…

When soldiers are wounded in battle, getting the bleeding under control is one of the most important life-saving measures medics can take. Due to the particular demands of doctoring in the field, however, this can be a significant challenge. A new injectable hydrogel that is activated by the body's own temperature may offer a way forward.Hydrogels – chains of molecules that can store significant amounts of water – are something of a modern wonder material. Experiments have shown that they can function as armor, pull…

While bone injuries such as fractures typically heal on their own, large sections of missing bone often never grow back, requiring bone transplants from other parts of the body. A new hydrogel, however, could help change that.Developed by scientists at Tel Aviv University and the University of Michigan, the substance is scientifically known as – are you ready? – an immunomodulatory fibrous hyaluronic acid-Fmoc-diphenylalanine-based (FmocFF/HA) hydrogel. What makes it special is the fact that it mimics both the physical…

After the summer so much of the world has sweltered through this year, better ways to cool buildings are on a lot of people’s minds. Researchers in China have now spruced up the humble window with hydrogel-glass, a material that can selectively block heat from the Sun without blocking its light.Regular glass is designed to allow visible light to pass through and brighten up the room, but its interactions with infrared light – felt as heat – are less desirable. Glass lets near-infrared radiation from sunlight pass through,…

Joint pain is a common ailment of aging, thanks to cartilage’s tendency to wear out. Now, researchers at Duke University have developed a new hydrogel that’s stronger and more durable than the real thing, which could make for longer lasting knee implants.Natural cartilage plays an important role in cushioning joints, but unfortunately it doesn’t regenerate itself very well after damage by age or injury. Current treatment options are usually limited to pain medication, physical therapy, or if things progress too far, a…

Knee pain is one of the most rampant health issues for many. This pain stems from the wear and tear of the cartilage in a medical condition called osteoarthritis. Seeking relief, people commonly turn to steroid injections, pain relievers, physical therapies, or getting their knee joint replaced. But, a new development might prove to be a game changer. Researchers from Duke University have created the first gel-based substitute for natural cartilage, which, according to them, is more durable than the original. The hydrogel…

Getting a bandage to stick to your skin can sometimes be difficult, particularly if that skin is wet. This isn't a problem with an experimental new wound dressing however, which uses ultrasound-induced microbubbles to better bond with the skin.Developed by a team led by Canada's McGill University, the dressing itself takes the form of a thin sheet of clear hydrogel – it's made of either polyacrylamide or poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) polymers, along with seaweed-derived alginate gel. That hydrogel is combined with a liquid…

Glioblastoma is one of the most deadly forms of cancer, often returning with a vengeance after surgery to remove it. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have now developed an immunity-boosting hydrogel that can be injected into the brain after surgery to clear out remaining cancer stem cells.The survival rates for glioblastoma are among the lowest of any cancer, with less than 5% of patients surviving five years after diagnosis. That’s largely because this brain cancer has a tendency to come back after the…

Most vaccines need to be refrigerated, which makes it difficult and expensive to get them to remote areas where they’re often needed most. Now, researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method for encapsulating vaccines in hydrogels so they can be transported and stored at much higher temperatures.In order to produce an immune response, vaccines contain proteins or live viruses, which are vulnerable to heat. As such, they need to be refrigerated at under 8 °C (46.4 °F) for the entire journey from manufacturing plant…

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have invented a soft, jelly-like material that can endure the equivalent of an elephant standing on it and not explode like a water balloon — even though it's 80 percent water. When the weight is removed, the material returns to its former shape completely without being permanently deformed. The material, described as “super jelly”, is as strong as a shatterproof glass. It could be employed in a variety of applications, including soft robotics, bioelectronics, and biological…