Physorg March 9, 2018
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a hydrogel which is a hybrid of two different polymers: a seaweed extract called alginate and polyacrylamide. When these become entangled with each other, they create a molecular network that demonstrates unprecedented toughness and resilience for a hydrogel material—on par with the body’s natural cartilage. When combined with an adhesive layer containing positively charged polymer molecules, the resulting hybrid material can bind to tissues, stretch up to 20 times its initial length, and attach to wet tissue surfaces undergoing dynamic movement… read more.
Credit: Harvard University