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Publication on the viscoelastic characterization of hydrogels
The new paper "Scale-Specific Viscoelastic Characterization of Hydrogels: Integrated AFM and Finite Element Modeling" by Nicole Fertala and colleagues presents an integrated approach to accurately quantify biomaterial mechanics across length scales. By integrating Atomic Force Microscopy with Finite Element simulations, the study reveals a critical divergence in hydrogel behavior: while microgels exhibit rapid, localized stress relaxation driven by intrinsic viscoelasticity, macroscopic bulk gels display prolonged relaxation dominated by poroelastic fluid migration. This finding challenges the common practice of extrapolating microgel properties from bulk measurements. Additionally, the researchers introduced a streamlined analytical model capable of predicting key viscoelastic parameters with high accuracy, offering a robust platform for tailoring biomaterials in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The paper was published in Small. DOI: 10.1002/smll.202507835.
17.12.2025