Researchers at McGill University and Polytechnique Montréal have discovered a new way to create hydrogels using sound waves, making the process safer, faster, and more environmentally friendly.
Hydrogels are materials that can absorb large amounts of water, much like a sponge, and are used in various applications, including wound dressings, contact lenses, soft robotics, and tissue engineering.
Traditionally, hydrogels are made using chemical initiators—substances that trigger the gel formation process. While effective, these chemicals can be toxic and harmful, especially in medical applications.
The team, led by Professor Jianyu Li from McGill’s Mechanical Engineering department, wanted to find a cleaner way to make hydrogels.
They turned to ultrasound technology to achieve this. When ultrasound waves are applied to a liquid precursor—a substance that transforms into a gel—tiny bubbles form.
These bubbles then collapse with intense energy, causing the liquid to solidify into a gel within minutes. Professor Li describes this process, called “sonogel,” as not only faster but also much safer for the body and kinder to the environment.
Unlike traditional methods that can take hours or even require UV light exposure, the ultrasound method completes the transformation in just five minutes.
One of the most promising aspects of this technology is its potential for medical use.
Because ultrasound waves can penetrate deep into tissues, it could one day be possible to inject the liquid precursor directly into the body and use ultrasound to form the gel exactly where it’s needed.
This could be especially useful for treating injuries, repairing tissue, or even supporting regenerative medicine, all without the need for invasive surgery.
The technology also opens up exciting possibilities for 3D bioprinting. Current methods for printing hydrogels often rely on heat or light to harden the material, but ultrasound could do this with more precision and less environmental impact.
Assistant Professor Jean Provost, a co-author of the study from Polytechnique Montréal, explained that by using focused ultrasound waves, researchers could potentially shape and build hydrogel structures with remarkable accuracy, paving the way for innovations in biomedical engineering.
The breakthrough, published in the journal Advanced Science, could revolutionize how hydrogels are used in medicine and industry.
With its speed, safety, and environmental benefits, the ultrasound method represents a significant step forward in sustainable material science. In the future, this technology could lead to less invasive medical treatments and more precise manufacturing techniques, making it a true game-changer in hydrogel production.
Source: McGill University.
