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Polymers news
'Switchable' smart gel may pave way for next-gen drug delivery and sensing tech
University of Birmingham scientists have developed a new material that changes from a gel to a liquid-like state under ultraviolet light and can be rebuilt using heat or dismantled by acid.
Polymers
2 hours ago
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Novel plastic turns into a gas when heated—then reforms once cooled
In a study published in Macromolecules, researchers introduce a novel polymer that could simplify how materials are applied, removed and recycled by eliminating several complex processing steps used today.
Polymers
5 hours ago
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Novel polymer membrane design improves high-purity hydrogen separation
In Nature Communications a research team led by Professor Tae-Hyun Bae of the KAIST Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering introduced hydrogen-selective transport pathways at the angstrom scale inside polymer ...
Polymers
Aug 12, 2026
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Light-controlled molecular switches offer exciting possibilities for future electronics, data storage
Whether it's neurons responding to electrical signals or plants stretching toward light, nature is filled with examples of biological materials that respond to their environment. Now, researchers want to develop new responsive ...
Polymers
Aug 12, 2026
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Recyclable glue bonds underwater in seconds and holds for years
Most glues need a dry surface to stick properly. Bonding materials underwater is challenging because water forms a thin film on any surface, so instead of an adhesive touching a material directly, it touches a layer of water, ...
Self-healing composite retains 92% sensing response after 10,000 strain cycles
Researchers have developed a polymer composite that combines vibration damping with reliable strain sensing. The material uses a thermoplastic polyurethane matrix containing UPy (2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone) units, which ...
Polymers
Aug 10, 2026
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Using salt to drive drug-carrying particles deeper into difficult-to-treat biofilms
Biofilms—bacterial communities encased in a sticky, polymer-rich matrix—can be difficult to treat because that matrix slows antibiotics and drug-carrying particles. With help from salt, though, Yale researchers have found ...
Biochemistry
Aug 10, 2026
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Turning one of the world's most difficult plastics into premium lubricant
Virginia Tech chemist and chemical engineer Guoliang "Greg" Liu and his lab have developed a process that converts the plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into polyalphaolefin, a key component in lubricants such as engine oil. ...
Polymers
Aug 5, 2026
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Electrocatalytic method could purify wastewater by converting pollutants into recoverable polymers
Wastewater treatment is a critical issue for global environmental protection and public health. Researchers from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have recently achieved a major breakthrough with ...
Polymers
Aug 4, 2026
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Smart bioink shields delicate neural cells during precision 3D printing
3D bioprinting allows scientists to build custom tissue structures for medicine, but printing soft tissues like the human brain remains a major challenge. The strong pushing forces required to squeeze biological materials ...
Biochemistry
Aug 3, 2026
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Mechanical recycling contamination risks the circular plastics economy, but quality control analytics can help
A study from the University of Manchester into the effects of polymer cross-contamination on the outcome of mechanically recycling plastics has found that the presence of contaminants radically alters degradation mechanisms.
Polymers
Aug 3, 2026
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One of industry's toughest lignin byproducts could become feedstock for valuable chemicals
The pulp and paper industry, which manufactures everything from tissue paper to cardboard, also generates a significant yet often overlooked byproduct—a complex polymer called lignin. Around 100 million tons of lignin are ...
Biochemistry
Jul 29, 2026
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Captured carbon dioxide could yield strong, flexible plastics designed for recycling
Researchers at Colorado State University have developed a process to transform naturally occurring, highly stable carbon dioxide into recyclable, high-performance materials that could replace today's plastics in many situations. ...
Polymers
Jul 29, 2026
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Plant-derived lignin could guide bone repair by forming bone-like minerals
A naturally abundant plant material best known for giving trees and crops their strength may one day help repair broken bones, according to a new study led by postdoctoral researcher Dr. Srinath Palakurthy and Professor Rivka ...
Biochemistry
Jul 28, 2026
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Scientists repair damaged plastics at the molecular level, boosting recycling potential
Plastic recycling could become far more effective thanks to a new technique that restores the strength of damaged engineering plastics by repairing them at the molecular level.
Polymers
Jul 28, 2026
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When polymers meet primitive membranes: How molecular cooperation may have helped life begin
A new study suggests that simple molecules on early Earth may have worked together to create more stable, cell-like structures, offering fresh clues about one of science's biggest questions: how life began. Led by Dr. Moran ...
Biochemistry
Jul 27, 2026
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How 'super' enzymes can transform recycling
From microplastics clogging up our oceans to landfills leaching dangerous chemicals, plastic waste is a serious and growing problem for human health and the environment. We need to recycle more and, crucially, recycle better.
Polymers
Jul 22, 2026
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Reinventing food packaging with safe and sustainable oxygen-scavenging biodegradable plastic
From ensuring that food remains fresh longer to extending its shelf life for future consumption, food packaging plays an indispensable role in modern society. Conventional food packaging plastics are sturdy and highly effective ...
Biochemistry
Jul 21, 2026
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Artificial hand reproduces human gestures using memory written into light-responsive polymers
Danqing Liu from Eindhoven University of Technology explores how interactions with digital systems can be improved through the sense of touch. To achieve this, she develops advanced liquid crystal polymers that respond to ...
Polymers
Jul 10, 2026
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New catalyst could make mixed plastic waste recyclable in one chemical step
Ever wondered where your plastics end up? A PET bottle can be washed, shredded, melted and given a second life. But most everyday items—toys, mattresses, car seats—are made from different plastics that refuse to mix when ...
Polymers
Jul 9, 2026
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Building real-time control for engineered biological systems
