Polymers News and Research

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Throwing cancer-driving proteins in the cellular trash

When cancer-driving proteins resist various treatments, Northwestern University scientists have uncovered a new solution. Don't fight them - throw them in the cellular trash.

24 Feb 2026

Neutral polymer enables safer DNA delivery into cells

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a new molecule which carries DNA into biological cells, to treat or vaccinate against illnesses.

22 Feb 2026

Scientists uncover nanoplastics in brain tissue and question their role in neurological disease

Emerging evidence suggests nanoplastics accumulate in human tissues including the brain and may contribute to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disease pathways. However, causality, exposure routes, and long-term health effects remain uncertain and require coordinated research.

17 Feb 2026

Toxic compounds found in synthetic and natural hair extensions

Chemical analysis of hair extensions uncovers hazardous substances, emphasizing the need for improved regulation and transparency in the beauty industry.

16 Feb 2026

Solvent-free method improves drug solubility using mesoporous silica

A large share of medicines developed today may never reach patients for a surprisingly simple reason: they cannot dissolve well enough in water.

31 Jan 2026

Light-driven nanoparticles to target tumors

Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed a new light-based nanotechnology that could improve how certain cancers are detected and treated, offering a more precise and potentially less harmful alternative to chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

30 Jan 2026

Unlocking microbial secrets for health on Earth and beyond

Microorganisms live in biofilms - the equivalent of microbial "cities"- everywhere on Earth. These city-like structures protect and house microbial communities and play essential roles in enabling human and plant health on our planet.

22 Jan 2026

Air bubbles on plastics release microplastics into water

Microbubble-induced erosion on plastics releases microplastics into aquatic systems, emphasizing the need to understand this low-energy pollution mechanism.

21 Jan 2026

Monolithic photocurable hyaluronic acid patch achieves strong wet adhesion for durotomy repair

Durotomy is a common neurosurgical complication involving a tear in the dura mater, the protective membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

16 Jan 2026

Aston University and PFE Medical partner to create biodegradable gloves from food waste

Aston University and Midlands-based company PFE Medical are teaming up to create biodegradable gloves made from food waste for use in the NHS.

7 Jan 2026

Mucus-inspired hydrogel resists stomach acid and promotes gastrointestinal healing

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed an acid-resistant "ultra-stable mucus-inspired hydrogel" (UMIH), marking a breakthrough in the field of gastrointestinal medicine.

17 Dec 2025

Ripple & Bausch’s licensing agreement: What it means in ocular delivery

Ripple Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company developing polymer-free sustained release drug delivery systems, has entered into an evaluation and licensing option agreement with an affiliate of Bausch + Lomb.

From Hanson Wade Group - 4th Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Summit 5 Dec 2025

Designing better RNA delivery polymers with computational tools

A research team led by professor Olivia Merkel, Chair of Drug Delivery at LMU and co-spokesperson of the Cluster for Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Munich (CNATM) has developed the first integrated platform that combines molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and machine learning (ML) to identify new polymeric materials for therapeutic RNA delivery.

1 Dec 2025

Wiley adds additional data to its SmartSpectra, IR, Raman, and LC-MS libraries

Wiley expands its spectral database with over 9.5 million high-quality spectra, enhancing compound identification for researchers in various scientific fields.

From John Wiley and Sons - Scientific Publishers 24 Nov 2025

RNA-based cocktail shows promise against glioblastoma

A patented RNA-based cocktail developed at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) has emerged as a promising active agent against tumors of the central nervous system, such as glioblastoma.

20 Nov 2025

Polymer physics offers fresh perspectives on neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have applied ideas from polymer physics to illuminate the mechanism behind a key pathology in Alzheimer's disease, the formation of fibrils of tau proteins.

17 Nov 2025

Hard water drives a surge in microplastic shedding from polyester, study finds

Researchers found that hand-washing in mineral-rich water dramatically increases microplastic fibre shedding from polyester fabrics, fragmenting fibres into shorter pieces. A two-layer PDMS coating sharply reduced shedding from green polyester but was far less effective on black polyester due to pre-existing surface finishes.

12 Nov 2025