Editing Gel (section)

== Animal-produced gels ==
Some species secrete gels that are effective in parasite control. For example, the [[long-finned pilot whale]] secretes an enzymatic gel that rests on the outer surface of this animal and helps prevent other organisms from establishing colonies on the surface of these whales' bodies.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Dee EM, McGinley M, Hogan CM | date = 2010 | chapter-url = http://www.eoearth.org/article/Long-finned_pilot_whale?topic=49540 | chapter = Long-finned pilot whale | veditors = Saundry P, Cleveland C | editor-link2 = Cutler J. Cleveland | title = [[Encyclopedia of Earth]] | publisher = [[National Council for Science and the Environment]] | location = Washington DC }}</ref>

[[Hydrogels]] existing naturally in the body include [[mucus]], the [[vitreous humor]] of the eye, [[cartilage]], [[tendons]] and [[blood clots]]. Their viscoelastic nature results in the soft tissue component of the body, disparate from the mineral-based hard tissue of the skeletal system. Researchers are actively developing synthetically derived tissue replacement technologies derived from hydrogels, for both temporary [[Implant (medicine)|implants]] (degradable) and permanent implants (non-degradable). A review article on the subject discusses the use of hydrogels for [[nucleus pulposus]] replacement, cartilage replacement, and [[synthetic tissue]] models.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.orthoworld.com/site/index.php/publications/view_article/221558 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121217235511/https://www.orthoworld.com/site/index.php/publications/view_article/221558 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 17, 2012 |title=Injectable Hydrogel-based Medical Devices: "There's always room for Jell-O"1 |publisher=Orthoworld.com |date=September 15, 2010 |access-date=2013-05-19 }}</ref>