Empa
3D printing gives hope for corneal repair
07.11.2025
Empa researchers design a biocompatible 3D-printed corneal implant that could restore sight without donor tissue.
Fraunhofer IAP
Biodegradable stent improves vessel healing
06.11.2025
A new coated stent from Fraunhofer IAP aims to lower thrombosis risk and support natural blood vessel repair.
Targeted release of active ingredients through the skin
28.10.2025
New possibilities for silicone adhesive materials
Textiles with built-in infection protection
10.10.2025
Hospital germs are a growing problem. Find out how innovative textiles with AGXX can actively prevent infections in the future.
Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany
Faster laser structuring with optical stamping
07.10.2025
Fraunhofer ILT and RWTH Aachen have developed optical stamping, a laser-based method for ultra-fast, precise microstructuring in a single pulse.
University of Stuttgart
Stuttgart group studies soft robotics materials
06.10.2025
At the University of Stuttgart, researchers explore viscoelastic polymers for soft robots, with future use in medicine, industry, and safety equipment.
Universitat Politècnica de València
HYDROHEAL project advances bone regeneration
07.08.2025
HYDROHEAL develops biomaterials using hydrogels and AI to improve bone fracture treatments and speed up patient recovery.
Implants: Successful 3D bioprinting in space
03.07.2025
A bioprinter printed nerve implants on the ISS for the first time - also for better healing on Earth.
Ruyu Ma - Helmholtz Munich
QIScope reveals cell activity in low light
10.06.2025
The QIScope microscope captures bioluminescent signals in living cells with high sensitivity and resolution, ideal for long-term biological imaging.
Sebastian Lassak, Fraunhofer IPMS
Edge AI sensors for health and environment
03.05.2025
InSeKT develops compact edge AI sensors for real-time applications in medical technology, industrial electronics, and environmental monitoring.
What's new at COMPAMED 2025
23.04.2025
Who are the people behind medical technology? You can meet them 17 to 20 November 2025 at COMPAMED in Düsseldorf.
Titanium makes the difference
08.04.2025
Titanium has established itself as indispensable due to its unique properties.
Mikael Nyberg
Method for developing precise sensors
07.04.2025
Researchers introduced a new method for creating highly sensitive sensors that could play a crucial role in healthcare monitoring.
Empa
Soft muscles from the printer
04.04.2025
Researchers developed soft silicone actuators using 3D printing. These artificial muscles could one day support movement in humans.
Daniel Nilsson
Ultra-sensitive detection method for bacterial spores
10.03.2025
Researchers at Umeå University have developed a highly sensitive detection method that could improve food safety and contamination control.
Shengduo Xu / ISTA
Thermoelectric materials from the 3D printer
07.03.2025
Thermoelectric materials play a crucial role in efficient temperature regulation in electronics and medical applications.
Fraunhofer IPMS
High-precision imaging and laser
10.02.2025
A recent development from the the Fraunhofer IPMS: the first hybrid 2D vector scanner modules with electromagnetic drive.
Biocompatible materials
20.01.2025
The use of biocompatible materials prevents problems wherever the surface of devices comes into contact with the body.
Ozbolat Lab at Penn State / Penn State
Bioprinting: speed up in functional tissue fabrication
13.01.2025
Penn State researchers have unveiled a bioprinting method that accelerates tissue production 10 times faster.
Jens Meyer/Uni Jena
New advances: graphene-based sensor for medical diagnostics
12.12.2024
Researchers have developed a novel method for the functioning of graphene-based biosensors.
EMPA
Microceramic stars that hit the skin
11.12.2024
Nanoceramic microstars from Empa enable the transport of active ingredients into the skin via micro-bursts.
Shaping health with silicone
13.11.2024
Saint-Gobain Medical Corporation will be presenting its exciting solutions for medical technology at COMPAMED 2024.
Fraunhofer IFAM
PFAS substitutes as solutions for safe surfaces
08.11.2024
The IFAM has developed alternatives to perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) that can also be used in medical technology.
Fraunhofer IAP / Jadwiga Galties
3D bioprinting: Personalized implants for cartilage therapy
02.10.2024
Researchers are developing 3D printing inks with the body's own cartilage cells for personalized cartilage implants.
Fraunhofer IAP / Till Budde
Environmentally friendly PFAS-free polymer membranes
28.08.2024
PFAS-free polymer membrane is an environmentally friendly alternative to the PFAS-containing membranes previously used in the semiconductor industry.
SCHOTT AG
Schott AG – 140 years of innovation
21.08.2024
Schott AG is one of the most important technology groups for the manufacture of specialty glass and glass-ceramics.
Clayton D / peopleimages.com
Steel solutions for medical requirements
20.08.2024
As a precise and durable material, steel is of crucial importance in modern medical technology.
Showcase into the future
15.08.2024
With the Hot Topics, COMPAMED in Düsseldorf showcases fascinating developments in medical technology.
Empa
Smart fibers for precise drug delivery
22.07.2024
Empa researchers have developed a promising solution for local drug delivery over a longer period of time.
Fraunhofer IBMT
Innovative modular principle for ultrasonic sensors
10.07.2024
SonoOne" ultrasonic sensor system opens up innovative possibilities for a wide range of applications thanks to its modular system.
B. Bobusch/FDX Fluid Dynamix GmbH
FDmiX platform: production of high-quality nanoparticles
02.07.2024
Fraunhofer IPK and FDX Fluid Dynamix have reached a milestone in nanoparticle production with the development of the FDmix platform.
Karin Kaiser/MHH
Latest generation of self-dissolving stents conquers hearts
11.06.2024
Dissolving stent offers new hope for narrowed arteries - 2nd-ever implant at Hannover Medical School, ideal for younger patients.
Envato/YouraPechkin
Sensors – hidden heroes?
10.06.2024
They monitor, transmit and control – sensors in medical technology. Hardly any device can do without them.
Envato/Tatiana_Mara
3D: Laser Powder Bed Fusion
08.05.2024
New 3D printing technology: highly complex components made of metallic materials with Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF).
Ottobock
Ottobock presents GreenLine: Sustainable materials
08.05.2024
Ottobock’s new GreenLine merges sustainability with function: eco-friendly prosthetics and orthotics for modern medical technology.
INP
Plasma printing technology enables surface modification
06.05.2024
Researchers at INP have developed plasma printing technology that allows precise surface modification on an extremely small scale.
ninelutsk / Envato
Biomimetic adhesive for tissue and bone
02.04.2024
The printable dopamine-based tissue adhesive can even be printed on curved, uneven surfaces.
Ken Sakaushi National Institute for Materials Science
AI boosts green hydrogen production with platinum-free electrodes
28.03.2024
NIMS Japan developed AI that speeds up the discovery of materials for green hydrogen, advancing sustainable energy and materials science.
PHOTO COURTESY OF YONGLONG XIE/RICE UNIVERSITY
Rice physicist receives NSF CAREER award
21.03.2024
Yonglong Xie wins $888,555 grant NSF CAREER Award to advance magnon research, paving the way for future quantum tech and sensors.
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
New hydrogel for seawater desalination
18.03.2024
UPC develops thermosensitive hydrogel for solar-powered desalination and smart biomedical adhesives in diagnostics and semi-invasive therapy.
Advancements in all-solid-state batteries
08.02.2024
KIST and LLNL researchers advance solid-state battery tech by designing stable electrolytes, paving the way for safer, high-energy lithium cells.
Fraunhofer IZM / Volker Mai
Automatedly measuring optical in-glass waveguides
21.12.2023
Fraunhofer IZM has developed a system to automatically measure propagation losses in optical waveguides as part of the EPho project.
ninelutsk / Envato
Small technology for powerful hearing
14.12.2023
The smallest components are needed for hearing aids. We take a look at the microtechnology in devices.
ionadidishvili
Artificial intelligence makes gripping more intuitive
14.12.2023
128 sensors and AI help decode forearm muscle patterns, enabling more natural and intuitive control of artificial limbs.
Washington State University
Conductive, cotton-based fiber for smart textiles
12.12.2023
WSU develops cotton-like fiber with polyaniline conductivity: flexible, conductive, and promising for wearable e-textiles.
Fraunhofer CMI
Inspired by mussels: printable adhesives for tissues and bones
07.12.2023
Fraunhofer teams develop tissue adhesive to prevent early prosthesis replacement, enhancing long-term implant stability.
TU Bergakademie Freiberg / Andreas Hiekel
Basis for innovative PFAS filter made of clay
06.12.2023
PFAS filters use costly activated carbon - researchers seek cheaper alternatives to tackle these persistent "eternal toxins."
coffeekai
Recycling model for the plastics industry
30.11.2023
Profs Kümmerer and Endres aim to create a sustainable recycling model for the plastics industry at Leuphana and Leibniz Universities.
bellaSeno
3D printing: composite material for bone healing
28.11.2023
After a bone fracture, some patients experience healing disorders. To enable effective treatment in these cases, the Fraunhofer Institute IFAM (Germany) is researching a new composite material for use in the operating theater as part of the SCABAEGO joint project.
JoPanwatD
Pancreas: nanoparticles for optimized cancer therapy
22.11.2023
Researchers developed a targeted pancreatic cancer therapy with fewer side effects, now headed for clinical use.
BellaSeno
COMPAMED 2023: Bioactive composite supports healing
09.11.2023
Fraunhofer develops composite implant to boost healing and success in non-union bone fractures, easing patient burden.
A visit at Comate
01.11.2023
In the field of medical design, constant development is required: design, components, materials, production processes.
RUB, Marquard
Measuring instruments detect new materials
31.10.2023
New algorithm speeds up material analysis, integrating with existing tools to cut days-long processes to minutes.
envato/svitlanah
PFAS: risk or no risk?
31.10.2023
Many companies in the medical technology sector fear that they will no longer be able to manufacture products as before.
MPI-DS / LMP
The fuel economy of a microswimmer
19.10.2023
Scientists developed a theorem to calculate the minimum energy needed to propel microswimmers, advancing bio-inspired physics.
Nick Fewings / Unsplash
Plastic production via advanced recycling lowers GHG emissions
17.10.2023
Advanced recycling of post-use plastic cuts GHG emissions and boosts U.S. recycling, says DOE Argonne Lab study.
Fraunhofer IWM
Using deep learning to classify steel materials objectively
11.10.2023
Fraunhofer IWM and Schaeffler develop deep learning model for objective steel grain size assessment.
Fraunhofer FEP
Roll-to-roll: system traverse for 2D inline process monitoring
05.10.2023
KODOS project: Fraunhofer FEP and SURAGUS GmbH developed a solution for in-line process monitoring and parameter mapping in production.
Kate Myers/Penn State
Wearable sensor for continuous analysis of sweat
03.10.2023
A new wearable patch enables continuous sweat monitoring, offering glucose tracking where earlier sensors lacked durability and precision.
Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen
Integrated sensor tech: next stage in additive manufacturing
28.09.2023
Fraunhofer ILT developed a sensor system via additive manufacturing to meet Industry 4.0 needs for precise machine condition monitoring.
Rimidolove
Sustainable materials and recycling
19.09.2023
Where are the difficulties and how can the the industry become more sustainable, despite strict safety regulations?
Aaron Elbourne and colleagues, RMIT University
Ultrathin nanotech promises to help tackle antibiotic resistance
14.09.2023
Nano-thin material kills superbugs - future use in wound dressings and implants to fight infections.
Julia Siekmann, Uni Kiel
Muscles for soft robots inspired by nature
07.09.2023
Kiel University develops muscle-like hydrogel that expands and contracts quickly - ideal for soft robotics applications.
Joakim Palmqvist
Biosensors to detect tumors, viruses and bacterial diseases
05.09.2023
Linnaeus University invests SEK 35M in biosensor tech to enable faster, affordable diagnoses and potential at-home tests for serious diseases.
Max-Planck-Institut
Artificial intelligence designs advanced materials
31.08.2023
Scientists of the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung pioneer new machine learning model for corrosion-resistant alloy design.
Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen
What can AI do in laser materials processing?
30.08.2023
AI drives automation and zero-defect production by enabling real-time quality control and will soon assist in planning and regulating processes.
NTU Singapore
Micrometres-thin battery could power smart contact lenses
24.08.2023
NTU Singapore developed a flexible, cornea-thin battery that charges in saline and may one day power smart contact lenses.
Willfried Kunz and Patrick Altschuh
KIT’s high-performance computer optimizes materials for medical technology
17.08.2023
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has unveiled a cutting-edge €1.2 million computer dedicated to materials research. This powerful tool can predict material properties even before they are produced, significantly enhancing the potential for optimization, including in the realm of COVID rapid tests.
UBT / Chr. Wißler.
New glass with supreme toughness
17.08.2023
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth, together with partners in China and the USA, have produced an oxide glass with unprecedented toughness.
Jean Lachat
Smallest known way to guide light invented
15.08.2023
Scientists at the University of Chicago found a glass crystal just a few atoms thick can trap and carry light - and could be used for applications.
Eijiro Miyako from JAIST
Cancer photoimmunotherapy: novel liquid metal nanoparticles
09.08.2023
JAIST develops PEG-IMIQ-LM nanoparticles uniting photothermal and immunotherapy - for real-time, immune-boosted cancer treatment.
iLexx
Materials for AI: more brainpower for hardware and software
08.08.2023
Backed by €1 million from VW Foundation, researchers develop neuromorphic materials to boost adaptive algorithms for autonomous driving.
seventyfourimages
Brain-Computer-Interface: Focus on diamond-based quantum sensors
28.07.2023
In the NeuroQ project, a consortium from research and industry wants to develop sensitive sensors that enable better control of neural exoskeletons and prostheses under everyday conditions. Dr. Jan Jeske from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF told us what role artificial diamonds play in this.
ellinnur
Biomaterials: toolbox for the development of bioadhesives
27.07.2023
Prof. Scheibel’s team at Uni Bayreuth reviews latest research on protein-based bioadhesives.
Patrick Mansell/Penn State
Grant to facilitate high-speed bioprinting
26.07.2023
Penn State researchers lead a project to develop tech for scalable bioprinting of native human tissues like bones, tracheas and organs.
UBT / Chr. Wißler
Digital AI system for tailoring polymers
25.07.2023
Prof. Kuenneth’s team builds digital system to rapidly identify ideal polymers from 100M+ options - boosting tech, eco, and economic gains.
University of Stuttgart, FSM-Labor
Intelligent rubber materials
20.07.2023
Stuttgart and Tübingen researchers develop autonomously switchable polymers for advanced material applications.
Andreas Heddergott / TUM
Electrodes: 4D printing for nerve stimulation
18.07.2023
Specific nerves may be stimulated artificially, for example to treat pain. The finer the nerves, the more difficult it is to attach the required electrodes. Researchers have now developed flexible electrodes produced with 4D printing technology. On contact with moisture, they automatically fold and wrap themselves around thin nerves.
Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology
Functional surface refinement: control of growth dynamics of finest tin layers
11.07.2023
Nanometer-scale coatings with functional materials play an important role in many sensory, electronic and photonic applications. An international team of researchers – coordinated by Leibniz IPHT in Jena, Germany – has succeeded for the first time in observing novel growth effects of tin coatings on silicon nanometer-structured surfaces.
StreetOncamara_From_Twenty20
NOVA project: next generation of antimicrobial coating technologies
06.07.2023
Researchers develop and test highly efficient, environmentally friendly and stable antimicrobial (antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal) coating technologies in the NOVA project.
Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden/NATURE
Bionics: What makes cholesterol-containing surfaces so repulsive?
04.07.2023
Living organisms use powerful physical principles to control interactions at their surfaces. Researchers at the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Leipzig University and TU Dresden have now discovered why cholesterol-containing surfaces can exhibit greatly reduced attachment of proteins and bacteria.
Fraunhofer IZM
Pregnancy: intelligent patch for remote monitoring
29.06.2023
A patch equipped with highly sensitive electronics is meant to collect and evaluate vital data. In addition, the sensors will be integrated into baby clothing in order to improve the future of medical monitoring for newborns with the highest level of data security.
Fraunhofer IAF
Materials science: fast magnetic imaging with diamond-based quantum sensor technology
27.06.2023
Microscopic imaging of magnetic fields, enabled by quantum sensing, allows the measurement of the unique magnetic fingerprint of objects. This opens the door for fundamentally new applications in various fields such as materials testing or biomedicine. The system offers a unique compromise of sensitivity, resolution and speed.
Empa
Sensor patch for abdominal surgery
22.06.2023
Researchers from Empa and ETH Zurich have developed a plaster with a sensor function to ensure that wounds in the abdomen remain tightly closed after an operation.
K. Selsam/Fraunhofer ISC
CircEl-Paper: Recyclable paper-based electronics
06.06.2023
Billions of tons of electronic waste are produced in the EU every year. With a novel approach, the new EU project "CircEl-Paper" could sustainably improve the recycling process for electronics in the future.
Fotogenia - Renate Trummer
Tissue Engineering: TU Graz revolutionises production of biocompatible microfibres
01.06.2023
Using a newly developed method for the efficient and cost-effective production of biocompatible microfibres, the production of autologous skin and organs can be significantly accelerated.
Jens Meyer/Uni Jena
Specially coated titanium reduces risk of clots on prostheses
25.05.2023
An international research team led by the german University of Jena has now developed a promising approach to significantly reducing blood clotting on the heart valve material titanium.
astakhovyaroslav
SEMECO revolutionizes the medical electronics industry
18.05.2023
The project partners in the BMBF's SEMECO future cluster are convinced that the future of medical technology lies in the combination of digital innovation, safety and improved approval processes.
Julia Siekmann, Uni Kiel
New sensors for healthier indoor air
16.05.2023
People spend an average of 22 hours a day indoors, where furniture, carpets or wall paints can release harmful solvents over time. The scientists in the international doctoral programme "SENNET" aim to detect such pollutants. They want to develop reliable sensors based on special, porous materials.
Fraunhofer IWU
2.5D printing: "It only takes about five minutes to print an orthosis"
15.05.2023
Customized finger orthoses that can be printed quickly: Lukas Boxberger from the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Dresden focuses his research on this subject. In the future, the WEAM orthosis will support the customization of standard orthoses. In this interview, he explains the processes and materials that will turn this concept into a reality.
UBT / Chr. Wißler.
Regenerative medicine: cell-specific properties of novel spider silk materials
11.05.2023
Materials made of spider silk can be specifically modified or processed in such a way that living cells of a certain type adhere to them, grow and proliferate. This has been discovered by researchers at the University of Bayreuth under the direction of Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel.
Lunghammer - TU Graz
Smart artificial skin in application check stage
09.05.2023
The smart skin developed by Anna Maria Coclite has many potential applications – from robotics and cosmetic surgery to prosthetics. With an ERC Proof of Concept Grant, the researcher is now exploring its possible practical applications.
Fraunhofer IAP
Smart materials for aligner therapy
25.04.2023
Clinically effective, custom-made, discreet and comfortable - the demands on aligners for the therapy of malocclusions are high. This also applies to the material of these orthodontic splints. A team has now developed a highly innovative material that enables completely new treatment concepts and reduces costs. The scientists focused on polymers with shape memory properties.
SIAT
Capsule X-ray dosimeter for real-time radiotherapy monitoring
19.04.2023
In radiotherapy, precision in targeting tumor tissue while minimizing damage to healthy tissue is crucial. Monitoring the dose of radiation delivered and absorbed in real-time, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract, poses significant difficulty.
DECHEMA e.V.
Recovery of battery metals - project launch of Metallico
18.04.2023
How can battery metals such as lithium, cobalt, copper, manganese and nickel be recycled in a sustainable way? This question is in the focus of the new EU project METALLICO, in which DECHEMA is also involved. 23 partners from nine countries will optimize five innovative processes for the recovery of those metals and subsequently demonstrate these in case studies on an industrially relevant scale.
Gerd Altmann / Pixabay
Using AI to design innovative materials
11.04.2023
Advanced materials become increasingly complex due to the high requirements they have to fulfill regarding sustainability and applicability. Dierk Raabe and colleagues reviewed the use of artificial intelligence in materials science and the untapped spaces it opens if combined with physics-based simulations.
Caltech
'Smart' bandages monitor wounds and provide targeted treatment
05.04.2023
A new kind of smart bandage developed at Caltech may make treatment of chronic wounds easier, more effective, and less expensive. These smart bandages were developed in the lab of Wei Gao, assistant professor of medical engineering, Heritage Medical Research Institute Investigator, and Ronald and JoAnne Willens Scholar.
MPI-IS
Sustainability for biodegradable artificial muscles
28.03.2023
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, at Johannes Kepler University and at University of Colorado Boulder developed fully biodegradable, high-performance artificial muscles. Their research project marks another step towards green technology becoming a lasting trend in the field of soft robotics.
XING Ruirui
Researchers develop biodegradable, biorecyclable glass
22.03.2023
A research group led by Prof. YAN Xuehai from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a family of eco-friendly glass of biological origin fabricated from biologically derived amino acids or peptides.
DITF
Carbon fibers based on wood
14.03.2023
The DITF have developed a sustainable and cost-saving process to produce carbon fibers from lignin. This is an inexpensive raw material that is available in large quantities and is a waste product in paper production. The process offers high energy-saving potential and is particularly environmentally friendly. It uses natural, renewable raw materials and does not require solvents.
Satoshi Tanikawa, et al. 2023
Healing the brain: hydrogels enable neuronal tissue growth
08.03.2023
Synthetic hydrogels were shown to provide an effective scaffold for neuronal tissue growth in areas of brain damage, providing a possible approach for brain tissue reconstruction.
claudioventrella
Nanoparticle-based deep brain stimulation can treat Parkinson's disease
07.03.2023
With the onset of an aging population, the annual incidence of neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease is escalating rapidly. One of the various therapeutic approaches for such diseases is deep brain stimulation. Recently, a research team at POSTECH developed a new technique for administering electrical stimulation to the brain without the need for implanted electrodes.
Georgia Tech
New ultrafast water disinfection method more environmentally friendly
23.02.2023
Having safe drinking water is vital for public health, but traditional methods of disinfection cause their own environmental problems. Chlorine is cheap and easy to use in centralized water systems, but at the expense of harmful chemical byproducts.
Swen Reichhold
AI: new method for targeted design of molecules
22.02.2023
Leipzig and Warwick scientists create method for targeted design of molecules with desired properties.
Laura Schirrmeister
Degradation of plastic waste using newly developed biocatalysts
14.02.2023
The plastic materials polyurethane and polyvinyl alcohol can now be degraded under mild conditions with the help of enzymes as biocatalysts. Scientists from the University of Greifswald have developed corresponding methods together with the German company Covestro and teams from Leipzig and Dublin, as recently published in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., in two separate articles.
Sato et al
Navigating complex biological systems with smart fibers
09.02.2023
Instrumenting integrative actuators and sensors within a single active device at the microscale is constrained by current manufacturing technologies. Now, a team of researchers has developed a flexible polymer-based actuatable fiber which is capable of being integrated with smart materials and biosensing composite materials.