Articles tagged with "biomaterials"
Robots made from food waste explore a new path for bio-material design
Researchers at EPFL’s CREATE Lab have developed robotic components made from discarded langoustine exoskeletons, demonstrating a novel approach to sustainable robotics by repurposing food waste as functional bio-materials. This work introduces circular design principles into robotics, moving away from traditional synthetic materials like metals and plastics. The team embedded elastomer within the natural exoskeleton segments to control movement, coated them with silicone for durability, and mounted them on motorized bases. Their prototypes include a manipulator capable of lifting 500 grams, soft robotic grippers handling delicate and rigid objects, and a swimming robot propelled by exoskeletal fins reaching speeds of 11 cm/s. Importantly, most components can be recovered and reused, supporting sustainability goals. The research highlights the mechanical advantages of natural structures, such as the balance of rigidity and flexibility found in crustacean exoskeletons, which enable rapid and precise movements. However, working with biological materials presents challenges due to variability in geometry and behavior between individual
roboticsbiomaterialssustainable-designcircular-economybio-inspired-robotsfood-waste-recyclingsoft-roboticsScientists create gel that restores lost enamel within two weeks
Scientists at the University of Nottingham have developed a novel protein-based gel that can regenerate lost tooth enamel within two weeks, potentially transforming dental restoration and preventive care. Unlike traditional fluoride treatments that only slow enamel decay, this bioinspired gel mimics the natural proteins responsible for enamel growth during infancy. When applied, it forms a durable layer that penetrates microscopic cracks and promotes the organized growth of new enamel minerals through epitaxial mineralization, effectively restoring both the structure and function of natural enamel. This fluoride-free gel can also grow enamel-like layers on exposed dentine, addressing tooth sensitivity and improving dental restoration bonding. The regenerated enamel has been tested under real-life conditions such as brushing, chewing, and acidic exposure, demonstrating mechanical properties comparable to healthy enamel. Given enamel degradation affects nearly half the global population and contributes to cavities and systemic health issues, this innovation offers a significant advancement over current treatments that only manage symptoms without restoring enamel. The research team emphasizes the gel’s safety, ease of application, and scalability
materialsbiomaterialsdental-restorationenamel-regenerationprotein-based-gelmineralizationbioinspired-materialsSmart heart patch cuts damage by 50% after major heart attack
MIT engineers have developed a flexible hydrogel heart patch that significantly improves recovery after a major heart attack by delivering multiple drugs in a precisely timed sequence directly to damaged cardiac tissue. Tested successfully in rats, the patch reduced tissue damage by 50% and increased survival rates by 33%, outperforming traditional intravenous drug delivery. The patch releases three drugs—neuregulin-1 to prevent cell death, VEGF to promote blood vessel growth, and GW788388 to reduce scar formation—over specific intervals aligned with the heart’s natural healing process. The patch is made from biodegradable microparticles embedded in a thin, flexible hydrogel that can be placed on the heart during open-heart surgery. This approach aims to restore heart function more effectively than current treatments, which often fail to regenerate damaged tissue. The hydrogel safely dissolves over time without impairing heart movement. The researchers plan to conduct further testing in larger animal models and explore integrating the timed-release technology into stents for less invasive treatment options. The study
materialshydrogeldrug-deliverybiodegradable-polymercardiac-tissue-regenerationmedical-devicebiomaterialsMiraqules will showcase its blood clotting technology at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Bengaluru-based startup Miraqules has developed an innovative nanotechnology powder that mimics blood clotting proteins, enabling rapid blood absorption and clotting within one to two minutes at room temperature. The technology emerged accidentally during biomedical research and was refined into a product that provides instant feedback by stopping bleeding quickly when applied. Miraqules has secured 11 patents across seven countries, including India, the U.S., and Israel, and is currently piloting its product in an Indian trauma care center. The company anticipates regulatory approval in India soon and expects U.S. FDA clearance by 2026. Despite raising less than $700,000 primarily through grants, Miraqules has attracted interest from multiple hospital chains in India and the Israeli Defense Forces. The founders engaged early with the U.S. FDA through pre-submission feedback to streamline the approval process. Miraqules will showcase its blood clotting technology as a Top 20 finalist at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, held October
materialsnanotechnologybiomaterialsblood-clottingmedical-technologybiomedical-engineeringpatents3D printing creates human tissue with stretch and blood-like fluids
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have developed an advanced 3D printing technique that produces human tissue models with realistic mechanical properties and blood-like fluids, significantly improving the fidelity of surgical training tools. By controlling microscopic patterns within the printed material, the team achieved tissues that mimic the strength and stretchiness of real organs. Additionally, they incorporated sealed microcapsules containing blood-like liquids to enhance the models’ realism without compromising the printing process. Surgeons who tested these models rated them higher than conventional replicas in tactile feedback and cutting response, suggesting that such improvements could lead to safer and more effective surgical practice. The research team, including experts from mechanical and biomedical engineering and collaborators from the University of Washington, also developed a mathematical formula to predict tissue behavior under stress. While scaling the technology for widespread use will take time, the method shows strong potential for specialized, low-volume training scenarios. Future research aims to replicate various organ shapes and functions, develop bionic organs, and integrate materials responsive to advanced surgical tools
3D-printingbiomaterialssurgical-trainingtissue-engineeringmedical-devicessynthetic-organsbiomedical-engineeringNew scaffold drives 185% increase in bone repair effectiveness
Researchers at Penn State have developed a new biodegradable scaffold implant, CitraBoneQMg, that significantly enhances bone regrowth, showing a 185% increase in effectiveness compared to traditional bone implants in rat studies. The scaffold combines magnesium and glutamine with citric acid, which together stimulate intracellular energy metabolism in stem cells, promoting their differentiation into bone cells. This synergy between the molecules activates key cellular energy pathways (AMPK and mTORC1) simultaneously, unlike previous materials where these pathways acted inversely, resulting in faster and stronger bone regeneration. Beyond accelerating bone repair, CitraBoneQMg also demonstrated additional healing benefits such as nerve regeneration and anti-inflammatory effects at the injury site, which are crucial for long-term recovery. The scaffold delivers these molecules directly to the injury, ensuring high local concentrations that oral supplements cannot achieve. Furthermore, the implant possesses photoluminescent and photoacoustic properties, enabling non-invasive in vivo tracking via ultrasound. The research team, collaborating with orthopedic surgeons,
materialsbiomaterialsbone-repairbiodegradable-scaffoldmagnesium-implantstissue-engineeringregenerative-medicineReefs 'see' light without eyes, coral's secret unlocked in new study
A recent study from Osaka Metropolitan University has uncovered a novel light-sensing mechanism in reef-building corals, revealing that certain coral opsins use chloride ions from their environment instead of amino acids to switch light sensitivity between ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. This discovery challenges the conventional understanding of opsins—proteins responsible for vision in animals—where typically a negatively charged amino acid acts as a counterion. The coral opsins, specifically a newly identified group called ASO-II opsins found in Acropora tenuis, employ chloride ions to stabilize the Schiff base, enabling reversible switching of light sensitivity depending on environmental pH levels. This mechanism allows corals, despite lacking eyes, to adapt their light detection in response to changes in ocean acidity, which is influenced by their symbiotic algae’s photosynthesis. The study highlights the ecological significance of this adaptation, suggesting that corals’ ability to toggle between UV and visible light sensitivity helps maintain their symbiotic relationship with algae under varying pH conditions caused
materialsprotein-engineeringcoral-opsinslight-sensitivitychloride-ionsenvironmental-adaptationbiomaterialsHyundai CRADLE Partners with UNCAGED Innovations to Develop Sustainable Leather Alternatives for Vehicles - CleanTechnica
Hyundai CRADLE, the global open innovation hub of Hyundai Motor Group, has partnered with UNCAGED Innovations to develop sustainable, animal-free leather alternatives for vehicle interiors. This collaboration aims to produce high-performance, bio-based leather that significantly reduces environmental impact compared to traditional animal leather. The grain-based biomaterial developed through this partnership cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 95%, water usage by 89%, and energy consumption by 71%, while maintaining the texture, durability, and luxurious quality required for automotive interiors. UNCAGED Innovations utilizes its proprietary BioFuze technology platform to create a leather alternative called ELEVATE, which mimics the molecular structure and performance of animal hides by using grain proteins fused with plant-based elements. This approach differs from carbohydrate-based competitors by replicating collagen’s scaffolding function, essential for leather’s qualities. Hyundai CRADLE values UNCAGED’s sustainable manufacturing process that minimizes chemical inputs and uses natural dyes, aligning with Hyundai Motor Group’s strategy to prioritize high bio-content and environmentally responsible
materialssustainable-materialsbiomaterialsautomotive-interiorsleather-alternativesHyundai-CRADLEUNCAGED-InnovationsHair protein toothpaste could repair enamel, stop tooth decay
Researchers at King’s College London have developed a novel keratin-based toothpaste derived from human hair protein that could repair tooth enamel, reduce sensitivity, and prevent decay. Unlike enamel, which cannot regenerate naturally, keratin forms a protective, enamel-like coating by interacting with minerals in saliva, creating a dense mineral layer that halts decay and seals exposed nerve channels. This biomimetic approach offers both structural protection and symptomatic relief, potentially reducing the need for fillings or crowns in early-stage tooth damage. The keratin used in the toothpaste is sustainably sourced from biological waste such as hair and wool, providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional toxic plastic resins used in restorative dentistry. The protein forms a crystal-like scaffold on the tooth surface that attracts calcium and phosphate ions, gradually rebuilding enamel with a natural color match that improves aesthetics and patient satisfaction. The researchers anticipate that keratin-based enamel regeneration products could be available within two to three years, delivered either as daily toothpaste or professionally applied gels, marking a significant advancement in
materialsbiomaterialsenamel-repairkeratindental-technologysustainable-materialstooth-decay-preventionPeacocks can shoot lasers from tail feathers, scientists discover
Scientists from Florida Polytechnic University and Youngstown State University have discovered that peacock tail feathers can emit narrow beams of laser light when infused with dye and energized by an external light source. The research revealed that the colored eyespots on the feathers contain tiny reflective structures capable of amplifying light into laser emissions at two distinct frequencies, primarily in the yellow-green spectrum. This phenomenon represents the first known example of a biolaser cavity in the animal kingdom. The feathers required multiple staining cycles with dye before laser emission was observed, and the greatest laser intensity was found in the green color regions of the eyespots. The study involved repeatedly wetting the peacock feathers with dye solutions, drying them, and then stimulating them with pulsed light to measure emissions. While the researchers confirmed the presence of laser light emission, they were unable to pinpoint the exact microstructures responsible for the lasing effect. It is suggested that protein granules or similar small internal structures, rather than the keratin-coated melanin rods, might
materialsbiolaserphotonic-structurespeacock-featherslaser-emissionbiomaterialsoptical-materialsScientists mimic young tissue to reverse ageing in the heart
Researchers at the National University of Singapore, led by Assistant Professor Jennifer Young, have developed a novel lab-grown biomaterial called DECIPHER that mimics the heart’s extracellular matrix (ECM) to reverse ageing effects in heart tissue. Instead of targeting heart cells directly, the team focused on the ECM—a protein-rich scaffold that supports cells and regulates their behavior but stiffens and malfunctions with age, contributing to heart decline. DECIPHER combines natural heart tissue with a synthetic hydrogel, allowing independent control of the ECM’s stiffness and biochemical signals, which was previously difficult to achieve. Using DECIPHER, the researchers demonstrated that aged heart cells cultured on scaffolds replicating youthful biochemical cues exhibited rejuvenation, even when the scaffold remained stiff. Conversely, young heart cells exposed to aged ECM biochemical signals showed early dysfunction regardless of stiffness, highlighting that biochemical environment plays a more critical role than stiffness in aged cell decline. These findings suggest that restoring youthful biochemical signals in the ECM could reverse heart ageing, while controlling stiffness might
materialsbiomaterialstissue-engineeringextracellular-matrixhydrogelheart-regenerationanti-aging-researchSynthetic lichen could 3D print homes on Mars using Martian soil
Researchers led by Dr. Congrui Grace Jin at Texas A&M University have developed a synthetic lichen system that could autonomously create building materials on Mars using only Martian soil simulant, air, light, and an inorganic liquid medium. This bio-manufacturing approach mimics natural lichens, which are symbiotic communities of fungi and cyanobacteria. The cyanobacteria fix carbon dioxide and nitrogen from the Martian atmosphere, producing oxygen and nutrients, while the fungi bind metal ions and help form biominerals. Together, they secrete biopolymers that glue Martian regolith particles into solid structures, enabling the creation of building materials without human intervention or external nutrient supplies. This innovation addresses major challenges in extraterrestrial construction by eliminating the need to transport heavy materials from Earth or rely on continuous human assistance. Funded by NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program, the technology promises to facilitate autonomous 3D printing of habitats, furniture, and other structures on Mars. The team is currently
materials3D-printingsynthetic-lichenMartian-soilbio-manufacturingspace-constructionbiomaterialsUS Army creates 3D-printed skin to heal combat wounds, fight bugs
materialsbioprintingbiomaterialsbiomedical-technologies3D-printingmilitary-technologytissue-engineering