Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) and RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (PRI) in Japan, along with collaborators from the University of Münster, Germany, have developed a groundbreaking hydrogel with self-healing capabilities and electrical polarization. This innovation, based on a synthetic peptide called FQ(Pyr), forms a highly organized structure of nanofibers containing tiny water channels. The unique arrangement of molecules creates an electrical polarization along the fibers, enabling the hydrogel to transport ions, generate electrical signals under pressure, and interact with biological tissues. Unlike traditional hydrogels, this material combines strength, flexibility, and advanced electrical properties, making it suitable for applications like electric-responsive artificial muscles and targeted drug delivery systems. The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals that the hydrogel self-assembles in alkaline water and regenerates after damage, with a structure resembling helical nanofibers observed via cryo-electron microscopy. The discovery highlights the potential of minimalist molecular designs to achieve complex, functional materials with self-healing and electrical capabilities, marking a significant advancement in biomaterials science.

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