New hydrogel heals wounds rapidly, transforming medical care

Researchers have developed a new hydrogel that mimics human skin and can heal wounds up to 90% in four hours and fully in 24 hours. This advancement could transform wound care and artificial skin applications. The hydrogel uses nanosheet-enhanced polymer entanglement to achieve its unique properties. This structure allows it to be both flexible and durable, overcoming previous challenges in creating synthetic materials that can self-repair. The study, published on March 7 in Nature Materials, highlights the hydrogel's potential in various fields, including wound healing, drug delivery, and prosthetics. Its rapid healing capabilities may improve recovery times for patients with burns and chronic wounds.