Cooling products are increasingly common in pet care. Researchers recently investigated reports of neurologic signs in dogs following ingestion of hydrogel from a commercial cooling pad.
How Analytical Testing Helped Identify a Plausible Cause of Canine Neurotoxicity
Fourteen dogs developed neurologic signs after ingesting hydrogel from a commercial cooling pet pad. When ASPCA Poison Control identified similarities across the cases, investigators sought to determine whether a component of the hydrogel could explain the clinical presentation. As a scientist at Cambridge Polymer Group and a co-author on this investigation, I was involved in […]
To Document or Not to Document: The Critical Role of Analytical Test Reports
A primary output from any analytical laboratory is the test report, a critical document that directly supports medical device development, regulatory submissions, and quality system activities. In the medical device industry, test reports are not just records of data—they are regulatory evidence used to support: Material selection and design decisions Design verification and validation Regulatory […]
Global Bone Cement Shortage Disrupts Joint Replacement Surgeries
A production interruption at a major manufacturer has triggered a global bone cement shortage, forcing hospitals, especially in the UK, to delay or cancel hip and knee replacement surgeries, and prompting supply-chain reviews in other regions including the United States. Why Bone Cement Matters in Orthopedic Surgery Although many modern hip, knee, and shoulder replacements use […]
Caliente Chromatography: Quantitative Analysis of Capsaicin
Chromatography: To Quantify or Not to Quantify, That Is the Question Our chromatography team is regularly asked to identify compounds in materials. Some projects only require the identification of compounds, while others require the accurate determination of concentration of the identified compounds. The latter, termed quantitative chromatography, requires the preparation of calibration standards suitable for […]
How Long Can a Polymer Last…And What Is Q10?
The longevity of polymers in real-world use is a critical importance across industries, from medical devices and packaging to consumer products and infrastructure. While many polymers are engineered to withstand sunlight, heat, moisture, and chemical exposure, nearly everyone has seen a once-flexible product turn brittle, discolored, or cracked over time. Both raw materials (such as […]
The Chemistry Behind the Perfect Roast: Understanding the Maillard Reaction
Every time you roast a turkey or bake bread, a fascinating chemical reaction gives your food its rich brown color, enticing aroma, and complex flavors. That reaction is called the Maillard reaction (pronounced my-ard), a cornerstone of both food chemistry and polymer science. What Is the Maillard Reaction? The Maillard reaction occurs when amino acids […]
From Residues to Risk: Why Medical Device Cleaning Validation Matters in Biocompatibility Assessments
Webinar – October 15, 2025, 2 p.m. ET Register Here Ensuring medical device safety requires a coordinated approach across three critical domains: biocompatibility, cleanliness, and sterility. While each area has its own regulatory and testing requirements, they are deeply interconnected. Overlooking the relationship between these elements can increase patient risk and delay product approvals. This upcoming medical […]
Hydrogel Water Beads: For Farming Use Only
What Are Water Beads? “Water beads” are water-absorbent polymer beads that can swell over several hundreds of times their initial dry mass when placed in water, forming hydrogel beads. They are primarily marketed as agricultural products to act as humectants in soil, helping retain and slowly release water into the soil. Beyond farming, however, water […]
Flamingos Doing Vector Calculus
While we’ve previously celebrated the kitschy charm of plastic flamingos, today we turn our attention to the remarkable living birds and the science behind their mesmerizing feeding behaviors. With their beaks and most of their heads submerged near their feet, the birds stomp their feet in a rhythmic manner while chattering their beaks. But what […]
Potential Changes to the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Program
Background: The GRAS Framework The Food Additives Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) was established by Congress in 1958. In the Code of Federal Regulations, the rules that the FDA applies to food additives are spelled out in sections 21 CFR 170.3 and 170.30. A food additive is considered to […]