A common ingredient in herbal tea has been transformed into a powerful biomedical hydrogel, thanks to groundbreaking research from the University of Chicago. The malva nut, traditionally used in Chinese medicine as a sore throat remedy, has now been repurposed for advanced medical applications from wound care to ECG monitoring.
PhD student Changxu Sun first noticed the nut’s incredible swelling ability when steeped in water, expanding up to 20 times its weight—far surpassing chia seeds and even snow fungus. Where others saw tea residue, Sun saw potential.
Hydrogels, which are soft, water-rich materials often used in medicine, mimic human tissue and are widely applied in wound healing, drug delivery, and bioelectronics. To extract the nut’s valuable properties, the researchers crushed and purified it, creating a natural, sustainable hydrogel with superior performance to commercial ECG patches.
Beyond medical benefits, this innovation holds economic promise. Sun hopes this cost-effective, plant-based hydrogel will provide affordable healthcare solutions, especially in Southeast Asia, where the malva tree grows abundantly. Researchers are bridging the gap between nature and modern medicine by turning a traditional remedy into a high-tech medical material.
