Tag: hydrogels
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3D-Printed Ciliary Hydrogel Microactuators Enable Low-Voltage Actuation
Reimagining Microactuation with Hydrogels Researchers are pushing the boundaries of soft robotics by developing micrometer-scale hydrogel actuators that respond to low voltage. Unlike traditional millimetre-scale hydrogels that rely on interfacial pH or osmotic gradients, these new microactuators exploit internal ion migration through nanometer-scale pores. The result is precise, lightweight, and energy-efficient motion at a scale…
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3D-Printed Low-Voltage Ciliary Hydrogel Microactuators: A New Frontier in Micro-Actuation
Introduction: A Small, Smart Leap in Actuation Researchers are redefining how soft robotic systems move at the microscale. The development of 3D-printed, low-voltage-driven ciliary hydrogel microactuators marks a significant advance in soft robotics and microfluidics. Unlike millimetre-scale hydrogel devices that relied on interfacial pH or osmotic gradients, these micrometre-scale actuators operate through internal ion migration…
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Fungi Hydrogels: The Future of Wound Healing
What makes fungi a candidate for bio-integrated hydrogels Fungi are traditionally known for their role in decomposition, but researchers are unlocking a different potential: living materials that can mimic the multilayered structure of human tissues. The study from the University of Utah showcases a hydrogel crafted from a soil mold, Marquandomyces marquandii, which behaves like…
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Fungi-Derived Hydrogels Could Shape the Future of Wound Healing
Overview: A Living Material with Healing Potential Scientists are exploring a bold idea: could living fungi be transformed into hydrogels that help repair human tissue? Researchers at the University of Utah are investigating a soil-dwelling mold, Marquandomyces marquandii, as a candidate for a bio-integrated hydrogel—an engineered material that combines the adaptability of living organisms with…
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Fungi Hydrogel for Wound Healing: Living Bandages
Introduction: A living approach to wound healing When we think of bandages, we imagine sterile fabrics and chemical creams. A new line of research, however, is turning to fungi to create living, multifunctional hydrogels that could serve as next-generation wound dressings. The key idea: use a mycelial network—the expansive, web-like structure fungi form underground—as a…