The real selling point of using the hydrogel is that it is a one-off procedure, said Professor David Nisbet of the Australian National University. A patient would come into hospital with Parkinson's disease and only need this one procedure to potentially alleviate many symptoms for several years ahead, he added.

Researchers have so far tested the hydrogel on animals and shown it to be effective in controlling Parkinson's disease in rats. Professor David Nisbet therefore hopes to start clinical trials on humans within the next five years. According to him, the substance that scientists from the Australian National University and the UK's Florey Institute are working on together is relatively cheap and could easily be mass-produced in the future.

Parkinson 's disease is a brain disease for which there is no cure yet. It causes tremors and difficulties with walking, balance and coordination, and the patient's condition worsens over time. It is estimated that ten million people worldwide struggle with Parkinson's disease.

Researchers hope that the hydrogel can also be used in the future for patients with other neurological problems, such as stroke.

Czech invention

The original discoverer of hydrogel is Czech scientist Drahoslav Lím, who created the first compound of this type in 1953. His discovery was followed by another Czech scientist, Otto Wichterle - he used the revolutionary material to produce a soft contact lens.

Subsequently, further research into hydrogels moved abroad, with innovations taking place from the 1960s onwards, mainly in the United States. Since the beginning of the 21st century, researchers have focused mainly on their direct healing effect, with great potential for long-term wound healing. This research is also taking place in the Czech Republic.