Bionics: What makes cholesterol-containing surfaces repulsive? -- COMPAMED Trade Fair
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Illustration of the place in the knee where the implant is inserted; Copyright: Fraunhofer IAP / Jadwiga Galties

Fraunhofer IAP / Jadwiga Galties

3D bioprinting: Personalized implants for cartilage therapy

02.10.2024

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) are developing 3D printing inks with the body's own cartilage cells for personalized cartilage implants. The research is intended to create new treatment options for cartilage damage and strengthen the innovative power of Lusatia.
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Image: A roll of PFAS-free polymer membrane; Copyright: Fraunhofer IAP / Till Budde

Fraunhofer IAP / Till Budde

PFAS-free polymer membranes for semiconductor production

28.08.2024

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have developed an innovative, PFAS-free polymer membrane that represents an environmentally friendly alternative to the PFAS-containing membranes previously used in the semiconductor industry.
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Image: A tiny electronic component encased in glass is held by tweezers; Copyright: SCHOTT AG

SCHOTT AG

Schott AG – 140 years of innovation and success

21.08.2024

When Otto Schott, Ernst Abbe and Carl Zeiss founded the Schott & Genossen glass technology laboratory in 1884, none of them dared to dream how the company would develop. Today, Schott AG is one of the most important technology groups for the manufacture of specialty glass and glass-ceramics and one of the most important exhibitors at COMPAMED.
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Image: Various steel medical tools lying on a table; Copyright: Clayton D / peopleimages.com

Clayton D / peopleimages.com

Steel solutions for medical requirements

20.08.2024

Precise and durable materials are of crucial importance in modern medical technology. A key material in this area is steel, which is used in various forms and alloys to meet the strict requirements of medicine.
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Image: The four cover pictures of the COMAPAMED Hot Topics (AI, robotics and automation; Microtechnology; Innovative materials; Market development / international medical market) as a collage

Showcase into the future

15.08.2024

Imagine standing on the threshold of the future of medical technology – a world in which tiny machines achieve great things, intelligent materials adapt to the needs of patients and robots redefine the limits of what is possible. With the Hot Topics, COMPAMED 2024 in Düsseldorf offers unique showcases of these fascinating developments.
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Image: Edith Perret, woman with lab coat and long blonde hair, sits in a laboratory and smiles at the camera; Copyright: Empa

Empa

Smart fibers for precise drug delivery

22.07.2024

Local drug delivery over a longer period of time: this is one of the challenges that doctors face when treating wounds and inflammations. Empa researchers have now developed a promising solution: “liquid core fibers” that contain drugs inside them and can deliver them precisely over a longer period of time.
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Image: Individual modules of the

Fraunhofer IBMT

Fraunhofer ZSI presents innovative modular principle for ultrasonic sensors

10.07.2024

With the development of the Fraunhofer Dynamic Mixing Technologies (FDmix) platform, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK and FDX Fluid Dynamix GmbH have achieved a milestone in nanoparticle production.
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Image: A cuboid-shaped metal box with threaded holes for the production of nanoparticles; Copyright: B. Bobusch/FDX Fluid Dynamix GmbH

B. Bobusch/FDX Fluid Dynamix GmbH

FDmiX platform increases serial production of high-quality nanoparticles

02.07.2024

With the development of the Fraunhofer Dynamic Mixing Technologies (FDmix) platform, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK and FDX Fluid Dynamix GmbH have achieved a milestone in nanoparticle production.
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Image: A doctor with a beard and glasses holds a resorbable stent close to the camera; Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH

Karin Kaiser/MHH

Latest generation of self-dissolving stents conquers hearts

11.06.2024

There is new hope for patients with narrowed coronary arteries: a self-dissolving stent has been implanted for the second time worldwide at Hannover Medical School (MHH). This innovative stent, which dissolves over time once it has done its job, promises considerable advantages over conventional vascular stents, especially for younger patients.
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Picture: Numerous metal sensors hanging next to instrument panels in a factory for the manufacture of special appliances; Copyright: Envato/YouraPechkin

Envato/YouraPechkin

Sensors – hidden heroes?

10.06.2024

They monitor, transmit and control – sensors in medical technology. Hardly any device can do without them. For most people, their health at some point in their lives will depend on whether sensors are doing their job properly. But how diverse are their applications in medical devices?
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Image: Two hands holding a 3D-printed bolt; Copyright: Envato/Tatiana_Mara

Envato/Tatiana_Mara

Innovation in 3D: Laser Powder Bed Fusion

08.05.2024

An innovative 3D printing process is breaking down traditional manufacturing boundaries and opening up unimagined possibilities from aerospace to medical technology: laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). In our interview, Tim Lantzsch from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT explains current applications of this promising additive manufacturing technology.
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Image: A smiling Ottobock employee processes a blank with patches made of flax fibers; Copyright: Ottobock

Ottobock

Ottobock presents GreenLine: Sustainable materials for medical technology

08.05.2024

The trend towards sustainable products and materials is also finding its way into medical technology. With the new GreenLine product range, Ottobock, one of the leading providers of medical technology solutions, offers prosthetists and orthotists and their patients innovative solutions that combine the need for more ecological materials with consistent functionality.
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Image: The surface of a circuit board is processed by a micro precision device; Copyright: INP

INP

New plasma printing technology enables surface modification in the micrometre range

06.05.2024

Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) have developed a plasma printing technology that enables the precise modification of surfaces on an extremely small scale.
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Image: Implant shaft under 3D printer; Copyright: Fraunhofer CMI

ninelutsk / Envato

Biomimetic adhesive for tissue and bone from the 3D printer

02.04.2024

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB) and the Fraunhofer USA Center for Manufacturing Innovation have developed a tissue adhesive based on the model of the mussel. The printable dopamine-based tissue adhesive can even be printed on curved, uneven surfaces.
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Image: This graphic visualizes the AI technique employing arrows and different colors; Copyright: Ken Sakaushi National Institute for Materials Science

Ken Sakaushi National Institute for Materials Science

AI-based evolution: green hydrogen production enhances with platinum-free electrode materials

28.03.2024

Cutting-edge AI technology is improving the field of materials science, particularly in the quest for sustainable energy solutions. Researchers at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan have developed an evolutionary AI technique that accelerates the discovery of high-performance materials crucial for green hydrogen production.
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Image: Man with black hair and dark-rimmed glasses wearing a light blue top; Copyright: PHOTO COURTESY OF YONGLONG XIE/RICE UNIVERSITY

PHOTO COURTESY OF YONGLONG XIE/RICE UNIVERSITY

Rice physicist receives NSF CAREER award to advance quantum technology

21.03.2024

Yonglong Xie, Rice University physics assistant professor, receives the NSF CAREER Award, a $888,555 grant, fueling his research on magnons, quantum entities in magnetic materials, to revolutionize quantum technology. Xie's work shapes future quantum devices and sensors.
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Image: The picture shows on the right three brown examples of hydrogel. To the left, there is a transparent hydrogel; Copyright: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

New hydrogel for seawater desalination and medical therapies

18.03.2024

Researchers at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) have developed a thermosensitive hydrogel with multifaceted applications, including seawater desalination using solar energy and the creation of advanced biomedical adhesives for semi-invasive therapies and medical diagnostics.
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Photo: Preview picture to the video

COMPAMED 2024 – High-Tech Solutions for Medical Technology

04.03.2024

Who are the people behind medical technology? You can meet them 11 to 14 November 2024 at COMPAMED in Düsseldorf. Visit the leading international marketplace for the medical suppliers’ industry and product development and get excited!
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Image: A couple of batteries are in the foreground with a blurred background.

Advancements in all-solid-state batteries by KIST-LLNL collaboration

08.02.2024

Researchers from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have made significant progress in developing high-energy-density all-solid-state batteries, aiming for commercialization. Their latest research focuses on the design and synthesis of stable solid electrolytes, crucial for safer and more efficient lithium battery technology.
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Image: Attenuation measurement for a waveguide spiral; Copyright: Fraunhofer IZM / Volker Mai

Fraunhofer IZM / Volker Mai

Automatedly measuring optical in-glass waveguides

21.12.2023

Researchers at Fraunhofer IZM have now managed to develop a system that can automatically measure propagation losses in integrated optical waveguides, all part of the research project “Integrated Electro-Photonic Panel Systems” (EPho).
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Image: Various hearing aids lie on a tray, hands reach for them from all four sides; Copyright: ninelutsk / Envato

ninelutsk / Envato

The smallest technology for powerful hearing experiences

14.12.2023

From conversations with friends or colleagues to plays and lectures – modern hearing devices enable many people to participate in everyday life. However, the smallest components are needed to ensure that the devices function optimally and cause as few complications as possible for the users. Let’s take a look at the microtechnology in these hearing aid devices.
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Image: Biomechanical carbon hand prosthesis for disabled people on the table in the office, another white prosthesis in the background; Copyright: ionadidishvili

ionadidishvili

Hand prostheses: Artificial intelligence makes gripping more intuitive

14.12.2023

A better understanding of muscle activity patterns in the forearm supports a more intuitive and natural control of artificial limbs. This requires a network of 128 sensors and artificial intelligence based techniques.
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Image: A microscopic image of the newly developed fibers; Copyright: Washington State University

Washington State University

Conductive, cotton-based fiber for smart textiles

12.12.2023

A single strand of fiber developed at Washington State University has the flexibility of cotton and the electric conductivity of a polymer, called polyaniline. The newly developed material showed good potential for wearable e-textiles.
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Image: A printer applies the dopamine-based tissue adhesive to the three-dimensional titanium shaft of a hip joint; Copyright: Fraunhofer CMI

Fraunhofer CMI

Inspired by mussels: printable adhesives for tissues and bones

07.12.2023

Researchers at the Fraunhofer IAP have been working alongside the Fraunhofer IGB and the Fraunhofer CMI to develop a tissue adhesive that can help avoid early replacement of prostheses in the future.
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Image: Prof. Martin Bertau (left) and doctoral student Paul Scapan with safety glasses in the laboratory; Copyright: TU Bergakademie Freiberg / Andreas Hiekel

TU Bergakademie Freiberg / Andreas Hiekel

Basis for innovative PFAS filter made of clay

06.12.2023

PFAS filters available for industrial waste are usually made of activated carbon (PFAS = perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds). As this is comparatively expensive, researchers are looking for alternative filter materials for the so-called "eternal toxins", whose hazardous residues only degrade very slowly in the environment.
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Image: Used auto parts warehouse worker checks inventory in warehouse; Copyright: coffeekai

coffeekai

Recycling model for the plastics industry

30.11.2023

Prof Dr Klaus Kümmerer from Leuphana University Lüneburg and his colleague Prof Dr Hans-Josef Endres from Leibniz University Hanover want to develop a sustainable recycling model for the plastics industry.
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Image: Printing the support frame using a 3D printer; Copyright: bellaSeno

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.
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Image: Anatomical model of human pancreatitis; Copyright: JoPanwatD

JoPanwatD

Pancreas: nanoparticles for optimized cancer therapy

22.11.2023

Researchers from Göttingen and Karlsruhe have developed a new treatment approach for pancreatic cancer. The innovative method promises to be able to treat the disease in a more targeted way and with fewer side effects in the future. The therapy is now to be optimized for clinical application as quickly as possible.
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Image: At the pilot plant, a 3D printer builds the scaffold from the composite material; Copyright: BellaSeno

BellaSeno

COMPAMED 2023: Bioactive composite supports healing of broken bones

09.11.2023

A broken bone failing to heal represents an enormous burden for patients. Fraunhofer researchers have worked alongside partners to develop a composite material to be used in the treatment of such non-union cases. The resulting implant is designed to significantly improve treatment success rates and speed up the healing process.
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Image: Preview picture of video

A visit at Comate – Trends in medical product development and design

01.11.2023

In the field of medical design, constant development is required: from the design of medical devices to components and materials to new production processes. In this video, engineer Joris Bellens and business developer Lukas Stabel explain how the Belgian company Comate develops state-of-the-art products from the initial idea to the market-ready product.
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Image: a man holds up a lens with his left hand and looks at it; Copyright: envato/svitlanah

envato/svitlanah

PFAS ban: "Most of the PFAS substances used industrially do not pose a risk to humans or the environment"

31.10.2023

The intended European Union ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is causing discussion throughout Europe. Many companies in the medical technology sector fear that they will no longer be able to reliably manufacture products as before. We talked to expert Dr. Martin Leonhard, who chairs the medical technology section of the German industry association SPECTARIS.
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Image: A Person (Felix Thelen) working in a lab; Copyright: RUB, Marquard

RUB, Marquard

Autonomous measuring instruments systematically detect new materials

31.10.2023

Despite highly specialized methods that can simultaneously produce a range of materials on a single sample and then measure them automatically, every minute counts when analyzing them: because days or even weeks can pass before the characterization of a sample is complete. The new algorithm can be integrated into existing measuring instruments to boost their efficiency significantly.
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Image: Symbolic image of a micro swimmer; Copyright: MPI-DS / LMP

MPI-DS / LMP

The fuel economy of a microswimmer

19.10.2023

Scientists from the department Living Matter Physics at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) developed a general theorem to calculate the minimal energy required for the propulsion of a microswimmer.
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Image: Various plastic waste on a pile; Copyright: Nick Fewings / Unsplash

Nick Fewings / Unsplash

Plastic production via advanced recycling lowers GHG emissions

17.10.2023

Producing new plastic by advanced recycling of post-use plastic (PUP), instead of fossil-based production, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and increase the U.S. recycling rate, according to research by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory.
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Image: Visualization of state qualification in violet and green; Copyright: Fraunhofer IWM

Fraunhofer IWM

Using deep learning to classify steel materials objectively

11.10.2023

Researchers at the Fraunhofer IWM, in collaboration with Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, have developed a deep learning model that enables objective assessment of the grain size in steel.
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Image: Roll-to-roll vacuum coating system RC300; Copyright: Fraunhofer FEP

Fraunhofer FEP

Roll-to-roll: system traverse for 2D inline process monitoring

05.10.2023

Within the joint project KODOS (funding reference 13N14607), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, a solution for in-line process monitoring and mapping of process parameters was developed with SURAGUS GmbH at Fraunhofer FEP.
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Image: Person holding a sensor in hands; Copyright: Kate Myers/Penn State

Kate Myers/Penn State

Wearable sensor for continuous analysis of sweat

03.10.2023

Continuous monitoring of sweat can reveal valuable information about human health, such as the body’s glucose levels. However, wearable sensors previously developed for this purpose have been lacking, unable to withstand the rigors or achieve the specificity needed for continuous monitoring. Now, the research team has created a novel wearable patch that may be up to the task.
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Image: The transverse link with imprinted force sensor measures the stresses acting in the application at any time; Copyright: Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen.

Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen

Integrated sensor technology: the next step in additive manufacturing

28.09.2023

Trends such as Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things are making the precise recording of the condition of machines and components increasingly important. To face the challenges in collecting sufficient data, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT has developed a sensor infrastructure for smart industrial applications and implemented it using additive manufacturing processes.
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Image: Several disposable masks on a pile of garbage; Copyright: Rimidolove

Rimidolove

Sustainable materials and recycling in the medical industry

19.09.2023

Recycling instead of disposing sounds easy. But where are the difficulties and what opportunities exist for the industry to become more sustainable, despite strict safety regulations?
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Image: The ball shapes are bacteria and the “sheet” is black phosphorus, under the microscope at RMIT University; Copyright: Aaron Elbourne and colleagues, RMIT University

Aaron Elbourne and colleagues, RMIT University

Ultrathin nanotech promises to help tackle antibiotic resistance

14.09.2023

Researchers have invented a nano-thin superbug-slaying material that could one day be integrated into wound dressings and implants to prevent or heal bacterial infections.
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Image: dr Margarethe Hauck (right) and Lena Saure, wearing glasses and a white coat, test the hydrogel in the laboratory; Copyright: Julia Siekmann, Uni Kiel

Julia Siekmann, Uni Kiel

Muscles for soft robots inspired by nature

07.09.2023

A research team from the Department of Materials Science at Kiel University (CAU) has now developed a new material based on a hydrogel that functions similarly to a muscle. The soft material can be reduced and enlarged in a controlled manner within a short time and could thus take on motion tasks in soft robotics, for example.
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Image: Ian Nicholls is standing in a laboratory; Copyright: Joakim Palmqvist

Joakim Palmqvist

Advanced biosensors to detect tumors, viruses and bacterial diseases

05.09.2023

Linnaeus University is partnering with industry and healthcare to develop advanced biosensors, investing SEK 35 million in a project aimed at faster and cost-effective diagnoses of aggressive lung cancer, viral, and bacterial diseases, potentially enabling self-testing at home.
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Image: Symbolic image of the use of artificial intelligence (brain in front of rusting metal) in corrosion research; Copyright: Max-Planck-Institut

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.
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Image: Close-up of a laser performing metal laser material processing toned in blue; Copyright: Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen

Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen

What can AI do in laser materials processing?

30.08.2023

Automation and zero-defect production are important trends in machine construction. Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a major role in advancing both of them. Today, it can already detect deviations in process monitoring data and implement quality control in real time. In the future, AI will regulate many more processes and simplify process planning through assistance functions.
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Image: Associate Professor Lee Seok Wo holding up the flexible battery that is as thin as a human cornea.; Copyright: NTU Singapore

NTU Singapore

Micrometres-thin battery could power smart contact lenses

24.08.2023

Scientists from NTU Singapore have developed a flexible battery as thin as a human cornea, which stores electricity when it is immersed in saline solution, and which could one day power smart contact lenses.
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Image: a graphic depicting the process of the procedure; copyright: Willfried Kunz and Patrick Altschuh

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.
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Image: Dr. Hu Tang, first author of the study, in front of a high-pressure press at the Bavarian Research Institute; Copyright: UBT / Chr. Wißler.

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.
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Image: A man holds a glass object with a glove.; Copyright: Jean Lachat

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.
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Image: Light-activatable liquid metal nanostimulant in cancer therapy; Copyright: Eijiro Miyako from JAIST

Eijiro Miyako from JAIST

Cancer photoimmunotherapy: novel liquid metal nanoparticles

09.08.2023

JAIST researchers create liquid metal nanoparticles (PEG-IMIQ-LM) for cancer treatment, merging photothermal therapy and immunotherapy. Disintegration delivers immunomodulants and tracks cancer cells in real-time. Immune checkpoint inhibitor enhances cancer removal. Promising for future cancer theranostics, with clinical trials anticipated in a decade.
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Image: Graphic of a processor on a mainboard on the processor is a brain graphically recorded; Copyright: iLexx

iLexx

Materials for AI: more brainpower for hardware and software

08.08.2023

Researchers are developing neuromorphic materials to optimize adaptive algorithms for autonomous driving and more. These materials resemble brain structure, enabling faster and more efficient algorithm responses. Supported by Volkswagen Foundation with €1 million, the team aims to apply the approach to hardware.
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Image: Image: A man wearing VR glasses and an exoskeleton glove sits in front of a laptop; Copyright: seventyfourimages

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.
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Image: Close-up of a boy with a healed minor cut after surgical tape stitches; Copyright: ellinnur

ellinnur

Biomaterials: toolbox for the development of bioadhesives

27.07.2023

The team of Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel, Chair of Biomaterials at the University of Bayreuth, has compiled a current overview of the state of research on protein-based bioadhesives.
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Image: A man working with a 3D printer; Copyright: Patrick Mansell/Penn State

Patrick Mansell/Penn State

Grant to facilitate high-speed bioprinting of bones, tracheas, organs

26.07.2023

Developing technology to quickly and efficiently bioprint human tissues at scale is the goal of a new project led by Penn State researchers. When fully developed, the technology will be the first to enable the fabrication of scalable, native tissues such as bones, tracheas and organs.
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Image: A man stands in front of a monitor showing the atomistic structure of a polymer with carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms; Copyright: UBT / Chr. Wißler

UBT / Chr. Wißler

Digital AI system for tailoring polymers

25.07.2023

Prof. Dr. Christopher Kuenneth together with research partners in Atlanta, USA, have now developed a digital system that promises extraordinarily high economical, technological and ecological benefits: from around 100 million theoretically possible polymers, their system can precisely select those materials that have an ideal property profile for targeted applications at unprecedented speed.
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Image: Intelligent rubber material that adapts to ambient humidity. This wristband shows the material's ability to adapt, in this case, to wrist movements.; Copyright: University of Stuttgart, FSM-Lab

University of Stuttgart, FSM-Labor

Intelligent rubber materials

20.07.2023

Autonomously switchable polymer materials have recently been developed by materials scientists at the University of Stuttgart and pharmacists at the University of Tübingen.
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Image:  Doctoral candidate Lukas Hiendlmeier working on the self-folding electrodes; Copyright: Andreas Heddergott / TUM

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.
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Image: Dynamics of the molecular precursor in the nanochannel during the MOCVD process (left in the picture) and typical SEM cross-sectional view; Copyright: Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology

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.
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Image: A scientist in lab uniform inspects a smooth surface; Copyright: StreetOncamara_From_Twenty20

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.
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Image: The Collembola Tetrodontophora bielanensis in its natural habitat; Copyright: Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden/NATURE

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.
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Image: Group picture of 16 people, the Newlife consortium at Fraunhofer IZM in Berlin; Copyright: Fraunhofer IZM

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.
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Image: Fraunhofer IAF’s wide-field magnetometer; Copyright: Fraunhofer IAF

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.
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Image: The hydrogel composite is demonstratively stretched by Alexandre Anthis; Copyright: Empa

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.
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Image: R2R printed electronic components on paper ; Copyright: K. Selsam/Fraunhofer ISC

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.
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Image: Woman with glasses and gray-brown hair, Carole Planchette, stands by a pillar; Copyright: Fotogenia - Renate Trummer

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.
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Image: PhD student Maja Struczynska with the model of a single fibrinogen molecule; Copyright: Jens Meyer/Uni Jena

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.
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Image: Microelectronics assembly industrial factory - interior and group of workers; Copyright: astakhovyaroslav

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.
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Image: Barnika Chakraborty, Professor Rainer Adelung and Dr Leonard Siebert; Copyright: Julia Siekmann, Uni Kiel

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.
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Image: flat printed model of a deformable finger orthosis on a light background; Copyright: Fraunhofer IWU

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.
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Image: Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel and Vanessa Trossmann in a laboratory for the microscopic examination of cell structures; Copyright: UBT / Chr. Wißler.

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.
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Image:  the three-in-one hybrid material

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.
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Image: Aligner made of shape memory polymers; Copyright: Fraunhofer IAP

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.
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Image: Functional model of capsule; Copyright: SIAT

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.
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Image: Group photo of the project partners in Sevilla / Spain; Copyright: DECHEMA e.V.

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.
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Image: Symbol image for artificial intelligence; Copyright: Gerd Altmann / Pixabay

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.
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Image: A smart bandage rests on a gloved finger; Copyright: Caltech

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.
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Image: Biopolyester food packaging; Copyright: MPI-IS

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.
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Image: Schematic diagram of the construction of biomolecular glass and its unique properties; Copyright: XING Ruirui

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.
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Image:three rolls of lingin in gold and black; Copyright: DITF

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.
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Image: Photograph of the semitransparent hydrogel used in this study; Copyright: Satoshi Tanikawa, et al. 2023

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.
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Image: nerve cell on a blue background; Copyright: claudioventrella

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.
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Image: Hand with a glove is holding a rectangle chip with the words

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.
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Image: Smiling woman with black blazer, glasses, and blond hair in a laboratory – Dr. Julia Westermayr; Copyright: Swen Reichhold

Swen Reichhold

AI: new method for targeted design of molecules

22.02.2023

Engineering novel molecules and materials with specific properties can yield significant advances for industrial processes, drug discovery and optoelectronics. However, the search for novel molecules and materials is comparable to looking for a needle in a haystack, since the number of molecules in chemical space is of the unimaginable order of 10 to the power of 60.
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Image: A smiling man with blue shirt, short grey hair and glasses is standing at the sea - Prof. Uwe Bornscheuer; Copyright: Laura Schirrmeister

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.
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Image: An active fiber fabricated by the thermal drawing; Copyright: Sato et al

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.
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