An emerging hydrogel material with the capacity to degrade and spontaneously reform in the gastrointestinal tract could help researchers develop more effective methods for oral drug delivery. "The majority of drugs and nutrients are absorbed into the body in the intestines, but to get there, they have to traverse the stomach — a very acidic, harsh environment that can interfere with the active molecules in pharmaceuticals," says Kelly Schultz, an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Lehigh University.
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