Gels are soft condensed matter systems consisting of a percolating, solid-like network dispersed within a continuous fluid phase, exhibiting a finite elastic modulus and yield stress despite being predominantly liquid by volume. The network can arise from physical associations (e.g., hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, chain entanglements) or covalent crosslinks between polymer chains, colloidal particles, or other mesoscopic building blocks, producing a mechanically stable, non-flowing structure. Their rheological behavior is characterized by viscoelasticity, with solid-like response at low stresses and flow under higher stresses, and their properties depend sensitively on crosslink density, microstructure, and solvent quality.
The creation of fully artificial organs is a sci-fi dream, and researchers in Japan may have brought it one step closer to reality by developing a new photofabrication technique (i.e., a light-controlled synthetic method) ...
Biotechnology
12 hours ago
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IMDEA Materials Institute has developed mechanically tunable hydrogel membranes that closely mimic the mechanical environment of human skin while remaining highly biocompatible, representing an improved platform for skin ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 13, 2026
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Popular science fiction is no stranger to escape-pod scenarios, typically featuring characters who narrowly avoid their demise by jettisoning from a spaceship—think R2-D2 and C-3PO shooting away from a rebel spaceship in ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 7, 2026
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Researchers have developed light-transmitting hydrogel fibers that are just hundreds of micrometers in diameter. With further development, these soft fibers could one day make it possible to use imaging techniques to detect ...
Optics & Photonics
Jun 25, 2026
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The integration of biological organisms into synthetic structures offers a radical new pathway for developing intelligent, self-powered materials. Researchers have pioneered an innovative approach to biomanufacturing by using ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jun 11, 2026
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Researchers have used a biopolymer to encapsulate and extend the storage life and release rate of a bioinsecticidal fungus. The study is published in ACS Omega. The goal is to extend the shelf life of Beauveria bassiana, ...
Biotechnology
Jun 10, 2026
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Wearable and implantable biosensors have the potential to revolutionize health care by diagnosing, monitoring, and even treating a wide range of health conditions. Recent innovations in the lab of Wei Gao, professor of medical ...
Biotechnology
Jun 10, 2026
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Cells are typically studied outside the body under controlled laboratory conditions. However, conventional flat cell culture methods do not fully reproduce the complex three-dimensional environments that cells experience ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jun 1, 2026
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As climate change, soil degradation, and water scarcity place growing pressure on agriculture, scientists are looking for new ways to help crops germinate and grow more efficiently while reducing environmental impact. A new ...
Biotechnology
May 31, 2026
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Researchers have long known that bacteria could potentially be used to deliver therapeutic drugs inside the human body. However, safely and successfully carrying out such a feat in humans has been a challenge. But now, researchers ...
