Breakthrough Gel Could Help Restore Lost Voices

A breakthrough that speaks volumes.

STARTER STATS

• Roughly 7.6% of adults in the U.S. experience voice problems every year.

• In occupations like teaching, the prevalence is significantly higher, with one study finding that 88% had experienced a voice disorder in their career.

• Voice issues are significantly more prevalent among adults over 60.

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A new injectable hydrogel could help repair vocal cord injuries, offering new hope for people who have lost their voices due to scarring or overuse.

Vocal cord damage is often permanent because scar tissue prevents the vocal folds from vibrating properly. Existing injection treatments degrade quickly, forcing patients to undergo repeated, sometimes risky procedures. In preclinical tests, researchers at McGill University developed a new gel that remained stable for weeks, lasting significantly longer than current materials and supporting healthier tissue recovery.

“This process is what makes our approach unique... it acts like a molecular glue, locking the material together so it doesn’t fall apart too quickly once injected.”

— Dr. Maryam Tabrizian

Made from natural tissue proteins and strengthened using 'click chemistry', a process that acts like molecular glue, the gel could one day offer a longer-lasting, minimally invasive option for restoring voice function. The researchers plan to test the material in advanced computer simulations before moving to human trials.

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