Hydrogels are soft, water-rich materials that offer potential in medicine and technology. However, most artificial hydrogels struggle to combine high stiffness with self-healing properties.
Researchers from Aalto University and the University of Bayreuth have created a new hydrogel that improves upon synthetic materials, opening doors for artificial skin, wound healing, drug delivery, and soft robotics. Unlike synthetic materials, natural tissues like human skin are strong, flexible, and notably capable of self-repair.
Until now, scientists have been able to replicate either the stiffness or the self-healing properties of biological tissues, but not both. Hydrogels are promising for biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, nutrient transport, and ionic conductivity, yet their mechanical limitations hinder their full potential.
The hydrogel’s polymers entangle with nanosheets, enhancing strength while allowing molecular movement for healing. Researchers combined a powdered monomer solution with water containing these nanosheets. “Entanglement means the thin polymer layers twist together like small pieces of wool yarn.”.
“When polymers are fully entangled, they blend together seamlessly. They are dynamic at the molecular level and can rejoin when cut. The mixture is exposed to UV light, similar to curing gel nail polish, causing the molecules to bond into a solid yet elastic gel. Within four hours of being cut, it is 80–90% healed, and fully restored after 24 hours.”
This discovery tackles a key challenge in materials science. “Creating stiff, strong, and self-healing hydrogels has long been difficult. We have found a way to strengthen conventionally soft hydrogels, which could revolutionize bio-inspired materials.”
Comprising 10,000 layers of nanosheets, these new hydrogels mimic the mechanical properties of human skin, achieving a rare combination of stiffness and stretchability.
The hydrogel’s success stems from the nanoscale confinement of polymer chains. Self-healing typically relies on dynamic interactions like hydrogen bonding and electrostatic forces, which work best in softer materials. Stiffer materials, however, need more permanent bonds that can hinder self-healing.
Researchers used nanosheets of synthetic clay called hectorite to create a nanoconfinement structure that organizes polymer chains at the molecular level. This increases stiffness while maintaining the dynamic movement needed for self-healing.
The nanosheets prevent polymer strands from separating too far when cut, facilitating easier reconnection. Previous studies have shown that nanoconfinement enhances the stretchability, toughness, and durability of soft materials.
This is the first time nanoconfinement has been used to provide both high stiffness and self-healing properties in a hydrogel. This innovation can greatly benefit applications in soft robotics, which aims to develop flexible and adaptive robots.
Robots with artificial skins made from this material can self-repair, improving their durability. This new class of hydrogels proves that synthetic materials can take cues from nature to achieve remarkable properties. As research continues, these materials may soon become part of everyday life, influencing medicine, robotics, and engineering.
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Revelation 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Revelation 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Revelation 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Revelation 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
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