Researchers at Rice University in Houston, Texas, have developed a soft metamaterial that can quickly change size and shape under remote control. This innovative material has the potential to revolutionize the design of safer, more versatile ingestible and implantable medical devices.
Metamaterials are engineered structures that derive their unique properties from their geometry rather than their chemical composition. The Rice University team created a metamaterial that remains stable while deforming on command—a combination not previously achieved in soft materials.
Remarkably, this material can withstand compressive loads more than 10 times its own weight. It also maintains its performance under extreme temperatures and corrosive environments, which is crucial for medical devices that must endure the acidic conditions of the human stomach.
One of the key features of this metamaterial is its ability to switch between open and closed states when triggered by a magnetic field. This transformation is stable, effectively giving the structure a form of memory.
The development of this responsive and resilient metamaterial opens up exciting possibilities for medical technology, promising devices that are safer, more adaptable, and capable of withstanding harsh bodily environments.
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