The " Intelligent wound dressing" can release the drug automatically. If the drug is about to be released, it can light up the alarm.

The new dressing can stretch with the body, but also respond to changes in skin temperature.

When the wearer bends the knee or elbow joint, it can remain undisplaced and its in-line structure and electronics remain intact and function properly when stretched.

The research team that designed and developed the new hydrogel dressing was led by Professor Xuanhe Zhao, Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT.

What is a hydrogel?

Many items in our daily lives have hydrogel properties such as soft contact lenses, condoms and disposable diapers, as well as hair gels, toothpastes, and plant crystals. The alginate hydrogel and aloe vera wound dressings keep the wound moist and promote cell regeneration.

Gavin Braithwaite of Cambridge Polymers Group, Boston,Mass., pointed out that hydrogels may contain 80% or more of water with hydrophilicity and permeability.

They have a smooth surface and can also have viscoelastic properties. They are also sensitive to changes in the environment. All of these features make them versatile.

Because it can meet a variety of needs, hydrogels in the future play an important role in spinal cord regeneration, neural tissue engineering, and even organogenesis.

To synthesize a hydrogel, the polymer chains that form the basis are either chemically synthesized or derived from natural polymers.

It may be proteins, such as collagen and gelatin, or polysaccharides, such as starch, sodium alginate, and agarose. Natural sources of hydrogels include shrimp shells and seaweeds.

The extremely high water content makes them soft, sticky and very elastic, like contact lenses. Its super absorbent, such as baby diapers. They can also be very brittle. What kind of characteristics they have depends on their composition.

Material scientists have already seen a variety of potential applications for hydrogels, and they have been continuously expanding the application of this particular material.

Hydrogel dressing

Hydrogel dressings promote wound healing and remove necrotic tissue. Its high moisture content can cool the wound and relieve pain. Hydrogels also prevent the dressing from sticking directly to the wound surface.

Hydrogels are extremely tough and can be porous, allowing diffusion, or dense, depending on what it is made of. They can meet a variety of different needs.

The University of Wollongong, Australia, described hydrogels as "the most biocompatible material on Earth." In fact, animal bodies are mainly composed of hydrogels.

Human tissue and synthetic hydrogels have a lot in common. The latest products have similar properties to body tissues, making them an excellent choice for more and more medical applications.