Polymers and soft materials news, May 2021

New manufacturing process pushes vascular materials to the front

By utilizing 'frontal polymerization', researchers have shortened the manufacturing process for vascular materials from two days to two minutes.

‘Digital’ ivory promises ethical repairs of artefacts

ivory substitute can be printed into complex three-dimensional structures using additive manufacturing

BBA Advances - First papers published

Call for Papers: New Journal

Piezoelectric nanoparticles deliver double blow to brain tumors

drug-loaded piezoelectric polymer nanoparticles deliver double blow to brain tumors

Winner of 2021 CSTE Outstanding Young Researcher Award announced

Colorful chameleon-inspired material can detect food spoilage

Inspired by chameleon skin, researchers have developed core-shell hydrogels that change color in response to the vapors released by spoiled fish.

In memory of Dr. Susan Odom

Researchers follow silk road to alternative leather

Researchers have developed an alternative leather-like material from silk, which can be printed into different patterns and textures.

New scaffold material stays in tune with biological tissues

Researchers have developed a way to finely tune the mechanical properties of a scaffolding material so it can support the growth of various tissues.

Functional implanted medical sensor using gold nanoparticles

Implantable nanoparticle sensor shows concentration changes of substances in the blood

Polymer gels and gold nanoparticles produce oscillating platform

By combining polymer gels and gold nanoparticles, researchers created a diverse array of oscillators that could move in unison with each other.

Lobster belly inspires new tough, stretchy hydrogel material

A hydrogel-based material that mimics the structure of the lobster's underbelly is able to withstand repeated stretches and strains without tearing.