Researchers at Penn State have developed a new biomaterial called “living” hydrogels, known as LivGels, that can mimic certain behaviors of biological tissues and extracellular matrices (ECMs). These materials can be used in regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and soft robotics, among other applications. The researchers addressed the limitations of previous hydrogels by creating a cell-free material that dynamically mimics the behavior of ECMs, which are crucial for tissue structure and cell functions. The LivGels are made of “hairy” nanoparticles composed of nanocrystals with disordered cellulose chains, which introduce anisotropy and allow dynamic bonding with biopolymer networks. This design enables the material to exhibit nonlinear strain-stiffening behavior, self-healing properties, and precise control of stiffness and strain-stiffening properties. The researchers believe that LivGels have the potential to be used as scaffolding for tissue repair and regeneration, for simulating tissue behavior in drug testing, and for creating realistic environments for studying disease progression. The next steps include optimizing LivGels for specific tissue types and exploring in vivo applications for regenerative medicine.
A bio-based material with self-healing capabilities could transform the field of regenerative medicine, enabling the development of novel, adaptive therapies.
