Espoo, March 10 -- Gels are commonly used products that are soft and sticky. They can be applied to hair or to the jelly-like components in various foodstuffs. While human skin shares gel-like characteristics, it has unique qualities that are very hard to replicate. It combines high stiffness with flexibility, and it has remarkable self-healing capabilities, often healing completely within 24 hours after injury.

Until now, artificial gels have either replicated this high stiffness or natural skin's self-healing properties, but not both. Now, a team of researchers from Aalto University and the University of Bayreuth is the first to develop a hydrogel with a unique structure that overcomes earlier limitations, opening the door to applicati...