Scientists Create a 'Breathable' Hydrogel Inspired by Human Lungs
MIT researchers have developed a new 'breathable' hydrogel inspired by human lung architecture that allows for better oxygen and water vapor permeability. This innovation aims to improve long-term wearable health sensors by preventing heat and sweat buildup.
Why it matters
This material science breakthrough could significantly enhance the comfort and accuracy of medical monitoring devices worn on the skin for extended periods.
Add ScienceAlert on Google A ladybug rests on an air-permeable hydrogel floating on water. (Xuanhe Zhao, Yan et al., Nature , 2026) Wearable health sensors capable of continuously monitoring changes in the body have become a massive development in health technology in recent years.
These devices, along with medical patches and wound dressings , often need to remain in contact with the skin for hours or days. However, the water-rich hydrogels commonly used in such products can trap heat and sweat, potentially causing irritation and disrupting sensor readings.
In a new study published in Nature , engineers led by a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) report developing a hydrogel containing a stable, three-dimensional network of microscopic, air-filled channels.
A 2024 study published in Science Advances achieved eight days of continuous skin monitoring using a gas-permeable hydrogel sensor about 10 micrometers thick and reinforced with a polyurethane nanomesh.
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