Inspired by sea cucumbers' ability to change the stiffness of their bodies, a pair of Waterloo researchers created a gel that could help repair damaged tendons and soft tissues. All without leaving material behind.
Dr. Youchao Teng led the research team as a postdoc under Dr. Yimin Wu in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering.
Hydrogel, a water-rich material, serves as a temporary support structure for tendons, allowing new tissue to grow; as the tissue grows, the material gradually breaks down. Results so far are very promising.
Researchers freeze the material to form its internal structure, then soak it in special salt solutions that let users and researchers adjust its stiffness.
Sea cucumbers inspire the gel, and it can be made softer or stiffer, depending on what different tissues need to heal.
The team collaborated with researchers worldwide, including some on campus: Dr. Zhao Pan from Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering and Dr. Michael Tham from Chemical Engineering. The innovation also involved close collaboration with Dr. Song Li at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Dr. Badri Narayanan from the University of Louisville. The team also partnered with institutions in the United States, Taiwan, China, and Canada.
Learn more about this innovative hydrogel for health care applications in Sea cucumber-inspired gel could help heal damaged tissue in humans in Waterloo News.