Ultrasound-based sonogel promises safer and faster hydrogel fabrication

The team at McGill University in Canada said their so-called ‘sonogel’ technique is a faster, cleaner and more sustainable approach to hydrogel fabrication. Furthermore, it produces hydrogels that are stronger, more flexible and highly resistant to freezing and dehydration. The new method also promises to facilitate advances in tissue engineering, bioadhesives and 3D bioprinting. The team’s findings are detailed in Advanced Science.

Hydrogels are composed of polymers that can absorb and retain large amounts of water and find use in wound dressings, drug delivery, tissue engineering, soft robotics, soft contact lenses and more. 

Traditional hydrogel manufacturing relies on chemical initiators that trigger chemical chain reactions.

In collaboration with Polytechnique Montréal, the McGill research team, led by mechanical engineering Professor Jianyu Li, has developed an alternative method using ultrasound. When applied to a liquid precursor, sound waves create microscopic bubbles that collapse with immense energy, triggering gel formation within minutes.