Science Fair, 果冻APP鈥檚 annual open-air science event, took place this week in the courtyard of the university鈥檚 main building. The Fair transformed the campus into a vibrant tent city with interactive zones and research showcases, organised by different Institutes. Visitors had the opportunity to explore innovative developments, engage in live discussions with faculty and students, and gain a first-hand look at university life. The event attracted school students and their parents, prospective applicants, educators, university staff, and curious residents of the city.
For the team of the Center for Research on Polymers and Medical Products, Science Fair is not just a festival 鈥 it is a vital platform for science communication. It offers a chance to step beyond the laboratory and present life-saving innovations developed in Lviv to a broad audience.
This year, the Center showcased several cutting-edge developments, drawing the attention of more than 60 visitors. Among those who explored the exhibit were Rector Nataliia Shakhovska and Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Iryna Yaremchuk. The display also received close attention from Bohdan Dziniak, Director of the Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, and Volodymyr Donchak, Head of the Department of Organic Chemistry.
Alongside AQUIOR, an already well-known product of the Center, researchers presented a fundamentally new development: a foam hydrogel designed for the treatment of internal organ fistulas. Its key innovation lies in a unique foam microstructure that forms during gelation. Unlike conventional materials, this hydrogel not only seals the entrance to a fistula but fills the entire channel along its length, adapting to complex geometries.
Administered using a two-component syringe system, the material demonstrates high resistance to aggressive biological environments, including bile and gastric and pancreatic fluids. It remains flexible under physiological loads without losing integrity, while also being biocompatible and biodegradable. The development was carried out by a research team led by Professors at the Department of Organic Chemistry Volodymyr Samaryk and Serhii Varvarenko, together with Senior Research Associate Nataliia Nosova.
All presented innovations are part of the Center鈥檚 broader research efforts, supported by the project 芦Development of hydrogel medical supplies for emergency medical services in case of penetrating abdominal trauma within the creation of a research center for new polymeric materials for medicine禄. This initiative received grant funding from the National Research Foundation of Ukraine. Also, the team is conducting research under the state-funded project 芦Creation of medical devices based on new polymer-hybrid hydrogel systems for the treatment and rehabilitation of military personnel with therapeutic and surgical pathologies禄 (No. 0124U000727).
