Smart gels deliver medicine on demand

Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed a "smart" hydrogel that can deliver medicine on demand, in response to mechanical force.Over the past few decades, smart hydrogels have been created that respond to pH, temperature, DNA, light and other stimuli."The idea of a smart hydrogel that can release medicine over time is not new," said Xinqiao Jia, UD professor of materials science and engineering and biomedical engineering.