Breakthrough biomaterial heals tissue from the inside out

Breakthrough biomaterial heals tissue from the inside out | ScienceDaily Science News from research organizations Breakthrough biomaterial heals tissue from the inside out A new IV-injected biomaterial could revolutionize healing by repairing damaged tissue from the inside out. Date: May 5, 2026 Source: University of California - San Diego Summary: Scientists have developed a breakthrough injectable biomaterial that travels through the bloodstream to repair damaged tissue from within, reducing inflammation and jumpstarting healing. In animal studies, it successfully treated heart attack damage and even showed promise for conditions like traumatic brain injury and pulmonary hypertension. Unlike earlier approaches that required direct injection into the heart, this new therapy can be delivered intravenously, allowing it to spread evenly and act quickly. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY The biomaterial is based on a hydrogel developed at UC San Diego. Credit: David Baillot/University of California, San Diego A biomaterial designed to travel through the bloodstream could offer a less invasive way to calm inflammation and help injured tissue repair itself. In animal studies, the injectable material improved tissue damage caused by heart attacks in both rodents and large animals. Early proof of concept experiments also suggested that the same approach may one day be useful for other inflammation driven conditions, including traumatic brain injury and pulmonary arterial hypertension. "This biomaterial allows for treating damaged tissue from the inside out," said Karen Christman, a professor of bioengineering at the University of California San Diego, and the lead researcher on the team that developed the material. "It's a new approach to regenerative engineering." The findings were reported in Nature Biomedical Engineering in 2022 by a team of bioengineers and physicians. At the time, Christman said a human study testing the s