Super Skin Hydrogel Heals Wounds 90% In 4 Hours, Fully Restores in 24

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In a groundbreaking advancement, scientists have developed a self-healing, skin-like hydrogel that can heal wounds in as little as 24 hours. The new material uses a unique combination of entangled polymers and ultra-thin nanosheets to enhance its mechanical strength and self-repairing properties.

In the study published in the journal Nature Materials, researchers from Aalto University and the University of Bayreuth have created a hydrogel made from entangled polymers and nanosheets. This new material, made from water-absorbent polymers, mimics the moisture-retaining and flexible properties of human skin, offering potential advancements in wound care.

By incorporating densely entangled polymer networks between nanosheets, the researchers have created a material that can repair 80 to 90% of the wound within just 4 hours after being cut, achieving close-to-complete healing within 24 hours. This self-healing capability is due to the dynamic movement of the polymer chains, which naturally reconnect after damage.

To create the hydrogel, scientists mixed a powder of monomers with water containing nanosheets and then exposed the mixture to UV light. This process caused the molecules to bind together, forming an elastic gel with a highly organized internal structure. The result is a hydrogel that combines high stiffness with remarkable flexibility, making it suitable for applications in wound healing, artificial skin, soft robotics, and drug delivery systems.

"When the polymers are fully entangled, they are indistinguishable from each other. They are very dynamic and mobile at the molecular level, and when you cut them, they start to intertwine again," explained Hang Zhang, one of the researchers from Aalto University.

Tests on the hydrogel demonstrated that a one-millimeter-thick sample contains approximately 10,000 layers of nanosheets, providing strength comparable to human skin. Unlike conventional hydrogels, which tend to be soft and fragile, this new material maintains its form while remaining flexible and adaptable.

Its ability to stretch and recover without losing durability makes it a promising candidate for biomedical applications where durability and self-repair are essential.

Scientists believe this hydrogel could revolutionize wound treatment by providing a robust, self-repairing dressing that adapts to movement and environmental conditions.

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