Scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) have invented a new jelly material that mimics biological matter such as skin, ligaments and bone, and which is very strong, self-healing and able to change shape.
The team say the hydrogel could enable a new class of medical implants or artificial muscles for next-generation robots that could one day swim.
Hydrogels are gels with a high-water content and used in a range of products, including contact lenses.
Lead senior researcher Associate Professor Luke Connal from the ANU Research School of Chemistry said the new hydrogel’s dynamic chemical bonds gave it features unlike any other materials previously reported.
“With the special chemistry we’ve engineered in the hydrogel, it can repair itself after it has been broken like human skin can,” he said.
“Hydrogels are usually weak, but our material is so strong it could easily lift very heavy objects and can change its shape like human muscles do. This makes our hydrogel suitable for artificial muscles in what we call soft robotics.
“Our hydrogel’s ability to self-heal, as well as its flexibility and strength, make it an ideal material for wearable technology and various other biomedical devices.”
Dr Zhen Jiang, a co-researcher and Postdoctoral Fellow, said a form of temperature control could change the shape of the hydrogel, allowing it to perform as an artificial muscle.
“In a lot of science fiction movies, we see the most challenging jobs being done by artificial humanoid robots. Our research has made a significant step towards making this possible,” he said.
Dr Jiang had the inspiration for the new hydrogel from one of his PhD projects.
“We anticipate that researchers working on the next-generation of soft robots will be interested and excited about our new way of making hydrogels,” he said.
The team can make the hydrogel with simple and scalable chemistry. They will develop a 3D printable ink based on the hydrogel.
The team’s study is published in Advanced Materials.
Learn more: Jelly invention can heal itself like human skin
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Jelly material
- Jelly Roll and Wife Bunnie XO Get Sporty in Converse and Speedland Sneakers for Netflix is a Joke Fest
Jelly Roll and wife Bunnie XO got sporty in Converse and Speedland athletic shoes while attending the Netflix is a Joke Fest on Tuesday at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Tuesday.
- Jelly Roll ends RiverBeat on a high note with country, hip-hop and a Three 6 Mafia chant
Jelly Roll paid tribute to Toby Keith and shouted out Memphis rap legends during his set at RiverBeat Music Festival.
- Jelly Roll Says ‘It Wasn't Just Bullying' That Led Him to Quit Social Media
Shortly afterward, Flavor Flav addressed the haters with a video on X. "How dare y'all try to judge my man about his weight and his character," the rapper said at the time. "All y'all trying to judge ...
- Jelly Roll teases new song, sings 'Save Me' at pre-NFL draft concert
Jelly Roll, the big character with the arena-sized draw, scaled things down Wednesday for a relatively intimate show in the city he affectionately called his "second home." The breakout country ...
- Jelly Roll teases new song, sings 'Save Me' at pre-NFL draft concert
Jelly Roll, in typical chatty and high-spirited form, loaded his 18-song set with material from "Ballads of the Broken" and "Whitsitt Chapel," the albums that propelled him onto the national radar ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Jelly material
[google_news title=”” keyword=”jelly material” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Hydrogel
- Hydrogel Dressing Market Science of Sampling Understanding and Avoiding Bias in Data Collection
The global hydrogel dressing market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4% during the forecast period 2021-2027, according to the new report published by Report Ocean.
- Tel Aviv University’s Professor Lihi Adler-Abramovich shares her innovative dental research
Abramovich, Ph.D, is the principal investigator at Tel Aviv University’s Department of Oral Biology, The Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medical & ...
- Fresh hope for chronic wounds
The unique hydrogel materials are made of peptides — the building blocks of proteins — that self-assemble to form a 3D matrix and are compatible with living cells. The consistency of jelly, the unique ...
- Soft Hydrogel Bioadhesive for Non-Invasive Sensor Attachment
Researchers have developed a soft hydrogel-based bioadhesive interface to attach sensors to soft and fragile marine animals without causing harm. Published in Nature Communications, the study ...
- Light Triggers Water Evaporation, No Heat Required
Though water itself does not absorb much light, and neither does the hydrogel material itself, when the two combine they become strong absorbers, Chen says. That allows the material to harness the ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Hydrogel
[google_news title=”” keyword=”hydrogel” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]