Researchers from Aalto University and the University of Bayreuth have developed a new type of hydrogel that mimics the unique properties of human skin. Unlike previous artificial gels, this material combines high stiffness with flexibility and self-healing capabilities. The team added large and ultra-thin clay nanosheets to the hydrogel, creating a highly ordered structure with densely entangled polymers. This allows the material to self-heal, with 80-90% of the material self-healing in just four hours, and complete repair in 24 hours. The hydrogel also has a comparable level of stretch and flexibility to human skin. The material’s stiffness is attributed to the 10,000 layers of nanosheets contained in a one-millimeter thick hydrogel. The researchers hope this breakthrough will lead to new applications in fields such as drug delivery, wound healing, soft robotics, and artificial skin. The material’s unique properties could also lead to new combinations of properties in synthetic materials, such as self-healing skin for robots or autonomously repairing tissues.
Scientists discover revolutionary self-healing hydrogel that accelerates wound healing and could pave the way for advanced, self-restoring artificial skin.
