Creating a drug that might help treat or cure a health condition in humans is a long, complex process. After developing a candidate drug that shows potential—a process that, in and of itself, can take decades—scientists often spend years testing the safety of new medications in cells, animals and then in humans.

A multidisciplinary team have built hydrogels built entirely from synthetic peptides so their properties can be precisely tailored through chemical design. By harnessing the power of collagen-inspired peptides and light-triggered chemistry, a University of Ottawa research team has engineered a customizable material with the potential to be a gamechanger for soft tissue repair, whether it’s closing a surgical incision or sealing a traumatic wound.