Biological “living” hydrogels coat all the wet surfaces in the human body, providing a selective barrier that keeps nutrients and information in while keeping pathogens out. One key example is mucus, the slimy goo that lines the mouth, nose, throat, sinuses, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. In this research thrust engineers aim to apply hydrogels to many vexing problems, such as preventing bacterial biofilm formation on materials exposed to living organisms. At the same time, biochemists aim to elucidate the fundamental biophysical principles that allow biogels to act as selective barriers and filters, and the cellular mechanisms involved in building and regulating them.
