Scientists create gel that mimics human skin and regenerates itself
- Dakila News
- May 3
- 3 min read
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Technical version: Aimed at readers with previous knowledge or professional interest in the subject.
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Accessible language:
Scientists from Finland and Germany have created a super-advanced gel that is very similar to human skin. It is strong, flexible, and has an incredible ability: it “heals” itself when it is cut or damaged. In just four hours, it recovers almost everything, and in 24 hours, it's as good as new again. This is due to the way it is made: with several fragile layers of clay mixed with other materials that automatically reorganize themselves when damaged.
The great thing about this gel is that it manages to be firm and resistant—just like our real skin—without losing its ability to regenerate. Most gels created to date are either too soft or cannot repair themselves when they are damaged. This new gel manages to do both at the same time.
Because of these qualities, the scientists believe it could be used in various areas: dressings that mimic skin, robots that need to move smoothly, or devices that “feel” human touch. Moreover, as it can be combined with other materials, it can even conduct electricity, which opens up room for even more uses, such as in intelligent prostheses or electronic skin.
Technical language:
Scientists from the Universities of Aalto (Finland) and Bayreuth (Germany) have developed an innovative hydrogel that simulates the properties of human skin, including rigidity, elasticity, and the ability to self-regenerate. Published in the journal Nature Materials, the study presents a material that, after being cut, recovers 80% to 90% of its integrity in around four hours and achieves complete regeneration in 24 hours. This performance is attributed to the structure comprising approximately 10,000 layers of clay nanosheets, just one millimetre thick, providing a network of densely interwoven polymers that reorganize spontaneously after damage.
The main innovation lies in the technique of coplanar nanoscopic confinement, which makes it possible to intertwine polymers in a framework of hectorite nanosheets, a synthetic clay. This approach results in a hydrogel with a modulus of elasticity of 50 MPa and tensile strength of up to 4.2 MPa, values significantly higher than those of conventional hydrogels, which are generally soft and less resistant. In addition, the material demonstrates high adhesion on various surfaces, expanding its potential for applications in soft robotics, 3D printing, and regenerative medicine.
Unlike other hydrogels on the market, which often sacrifice self-healing capacity for stiffness, this new material efficiently balances both properties. The ability to incorporate colloidal materials such as MXenes also paves the way for additional functionalities such as electrical conduction, making it promising for the development of advanced biomedical devices and human-machine interfaces.
Sources:Stiff and self-healing hydrogels by polymer entanglements in co-planar nanoconfinement | Nature Materials
Criado novo gel que imita pele humana e pode se regenerar | Ciência | Galileu
Conheça novo gel que imita pele humana e tem capacidade regenerativa
Hidrogel revolucionário imita pele humana
Stiff and self-healing hydrogels by polymer entanglements in co-planar nanoconfinement | CoLab
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