Jelly invention can heal itself like human skin

Scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) have invented a new jelly material that mimics biological matter such as skin, ligaments and bone, and which is very strong, self-healing and able to change shape. The team say the hydrogel could enable a new class of medical implants or artificial muscles for next-generation robots that could one day swim. Hydrogels are gels with a high-water content and used in a range of products, including contact lenses. Lead senior researcher Associate Professor Luke Connal from the ANU Research School of Chemistry said the new hydrogel's dynamic chemical bonds gave it features unlike any other materials previously reported. "With the special chemistry we've engineered in the hydrogel, it can repair itself after it has been broken like human skin can," he said. "Hydrogels are usually weak, but our material is so strong it could easily lift very heavy objects and can change its shape like human muscles do. This makes our hydrogel suitable for artificial muscles in what we call soft robotics.