Inventions
Bio-Kirigami Hydrogels Fold Themselves into Complex Human Tissue Shapes
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have developed a shape-shifting hydrogel platform inspired by kirigami to create complex three-dimensional tissue structures. Reported on October 19, 2026, the biofabrication invention uses patterned light to program living scaffolds that fold autonomously over time. The breakthrough addresses long-standing hurdles in engineering curved anatomical structures like cartilage, bone, and blood vessels.
Letizia Giugliano
