Textile researchers prepare stem cells to become organ tissue

May 22, 2023  |  What's New?

Nearly 3,000 people died waiting for an organ transplant in 2022, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, and more than 100,000 people remain on the waitlist. Envisioning a future without the need for donor organs, a North Carolina State University (NC State) researcher is la…
New method to create engineered silk announced

May 8, 2023  |  What's New?

Scientists have long been intrigued by the remarkable properties of spider silk, which is stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. Now, Fuzhong Zhang, professor of energy, environmental and chemical engineering at Washington University, St. Louis, has made a significant breakthr…
Magnetic biomedical devices can pop into shape as needed

April 24, 2023  |  What's New?

One of the challenges of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery lies in getting surgical instruments into the patient's body via a narrow catheter. Scientists have set about addressing that problem with magnetic instruments that pop into and out of shape as needed. The experimental MaSoChain (magne…
New polymers could enable better wearable devices

April 24, 2023  |  What's New?

Certain electronics that integrate with the human body—a smartwatch that samples your sweat, for instance—work by converting the ion-based signals of biological tissue into the electron-based signals used in transistors. But the materials in these devices are often designed to maximize ion uptak…
Sensor to monitor muscle atrophy is fabricated

April 24, 2023  |  What's New?

Researchers at Ohio State University have fabricated a wearable sensor designed to detect and monitor muscle atrophy. A condition involving the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, muscle atrophy can happen for a variety of reasons, but is typically a side effect of degenerative disease, aging…
Microscale knots double tensile strength of new material

April 10, 2023  |  What's New?

Knots are known for boosting the strength of materials, from the tiniest twists of DNA to (potentially) the very fabric of the universe. The California Institute of Technology in Pasadena (Caltech) reports that engineers there have now developed a new material consisting of microscale knots and s…
New color-changing fabric technology announced

April 10, 2023  |  What's New?

Fiber optic and fiber-device scientists in the laboratories of the University of Central Florida (UCF) have developed a new technology for an innovative textile that changes color and appearance on demand. The scientists believe ChroMorphous technology is a first in e-textiles and fabrics, as older …
New textile structures incorporate radiopaque fibers

March 13, 2023  |  What's New?

Cortland Biomedical, a medical textiles product development company in Cortland, N.Y., has announced that it now has capabilities for processing radiopaque fibers. By incorporating radiopaque fibers into diagnostic and interventional medical devices, it allows the devices to become clearly visible u…