{
  "id": 1798253,
  "title": "'Switchable' smart gel may pave way for next-gen drug delivery and sensing tech",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/switchable-smart-gel-may-pave-way-for-next-gen-drug-delivery-and",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-18T20:50:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-08-switchable-smart-gel-pave-gen.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists at the University of Birmingham have created a versatile smart gel that can toggle between a gel and liquid state in response to ultraviolet light, heat, or acid treatment. This new multi-responsive gel, composed of foldamers — synthetic molecules that fold into precise shapes — could revolutionize drug delivery, sensing technologies, and chemical manufacturing.\n\nThe gel's behavior changes due to the unique molecular design of its foldamers, which are connected by palladium ions acting as molecular connectors. Exposing the gel to UV light alters the foldamers' shape, causing the material to turn from solid-like gel to liquid. Heating the gel restores its solid state, while acid breaks down the molecular network. Remarkably, the researchers also converted the gel into a hydrogel containing water without destroying the gel's structural integrity.\n\nThe study, led by Dr. Sarah Pike, Dr. Chiara Arno, and Dr. Dominik Kubicki, combined expertise in gel design, supramolecular chemistry, and atomic-level structure characterization. Pike explained that even a minor change in the molecular structure can result in noticeable changes in the gel's overall behavior, demonstrating the impact of carefully designed molecular components.\n\nThe ability to control the gel's response to different stimuli opens the door to creating smart sensors, switchable catalysts, and materials that can capture and release specific molecules on demand. This breakthrough could lead to applications in targeted drug delivery, controlled release of therapeutic molecules, biomedical materials, smart sensing systems, and chemical manufacturing.",
  "summary": "University of Birmingham scientists have developed a new material that changes from a gel to a liquid-like state under ultraviolet light and can be rebuilt using heat or dismantled by acid.",
  "key_points": [
    "Smart gel toggles between gel and liquid states in response to UV light, heat, or acid.",
    "Foldamers, synthetic molecules, form precise shapes and act as molecular connectors.",
    "Researchers led by Dr. Sarah Pike develop multi-responsive gel for drug delivery and sensing tech."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}