A novel water-based gel, also known as a hydrogel, not only fights bacteria but also calms inflammation, thereby actively supporting wound healing.

The material functions like a net, catching bacteria and then killing them when triggered by a light pulse.

The gel has proven highly effective against the antibiotic-resistant MRSA bacteria in animal models while also accelerating wound healing.

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has unveiled Singapore’s first locally designed and built full-sized aircraft, an advanced electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology demonstrator. This eight-metre wingspan homegrown aircraft prototype, developed over more than three years by researchers and engineers from NTU Singapore, marks a significant milestone in Singapore’s aerospace research capabilities.

Eight lift rotors powered by NTU-designed electric motors are mounted on the wings to enable vertical take-off and landing from any confined space. Once airborne, the proprotor at the back quietly propels the aircraft forward, allowing it to fly like a normal airplane. It was unveiled today at the Singapore Airshow 2026 by NTU Vice President (Industry) Professor Lam Khin Yong, together with other industry partners.

In a paper published in Polymer Science & Technology, an international team of scientists developed a multifunctional conductive hydrogel (P-EPL/CCT) hydrogel flexible sensor using a physical-chemical dual cross-linking approach involving poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), gallic acid grafted chitosan (CS−GA), tannic acid (TA), eggshell membrane (ESM), lysozyme, and 4am-PEG-MAL for emergency cooling and wound healing following fire-works-related skin burns. The organohydrogel sensor exhibits impressive mechanical properties, such as a maximum stress of 2.15 MPa and an elongation of 605%, along with antifreeze resistance down to −39.5 °C, antimicrobial properties with bacterial inhibition exceeding 96.5%, and cytocompatibility. Additionally, serving as strain sensor with high sensitivity (GF = 1.14 at 100% strain) and rapid response times, it can effectively monitor human movement signals. The developed organohydrogel demonstrates the ability to accelerate skin healing, promote angiogenesis, and reduce scarring. Moreover, it is utilized for monitoring finger joint injuries and employing machine learning-assisted electrical signals for intelligent wound healing monitoring and protection. This study introduces a flexible device that combines multiple functionalities, showing promise for diverse applications in the biomedical field. This study is led by Chuang Du (Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China), Weiwei Liu (Stomatological Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China) and Lei Wang (Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, China).