Synthetic gel copies amphibians' ability to re-grow

A man-made gel that is able to repair itself after damage could be used to make self-healing armour, paint or tyres, researchers have said.

Engineers at two universities in Pittsburgh have copied the way amphibians regenerate their body parts in the model for the synthetic gel.

It could eventually lead to tables capable of growing back broken legs, one university said.

The research was published in the journal Nano Letters.

Anna Balazs at the University of Pittsburgh co-authored the study.

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