Gel helps cleft palates heal

As today's Daily Mail reports the breakthrough comes from work by researchers at Oxford University, the John Radcliffe Hospital, and the Georgia Institute of Technology using STFC 's ISIS neutron source. The team , including Jinhyun Hannah Lee and Zamri Radzi from Oxford University's Department of Materials, used ISIS to look at the hydrogel polymer's molecular structure in order to see how the material might be used as part of a simplified surgical treatment. Once inserted, the hydrogel gradually expands as fluid is absorbed, encouraging skin growth over and around the plate. After sufficient skin has been generated to repair the palatal cleft, the plate is removed and the cleft is repaired using this additional tissue. Offspec is the world's most advanced neutron instrument for studying new surface structures and can be used for a number of applications including biological membranes and patterned materials for data storage media. Oxford University's technology transfer company Isis Innovation is looking for commercial partners to help develop the technology, for more details, contact Renate Krelle: renate.krelle [a] isis.ox.ac (p) uk Top image: Polarised light image of hydrogel plate. Bottom left: Examples of how the plates swell in fluid.