A smart fabric has been invented that mimics the behavior of the human tissue called periostem. The technology could be used to create self-hardening suits and ease worn-out human joints.

Periostem is a special tissue in our body which covers all our bones. It stiffens on impact, thus providing enough protection for our bones to remain intact and not break easily.

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According to a team from the University of New South Wales in Australia, it "comprises an inherently 'smart' material that gives hard bones added strength under high impact loads."

The team was able to mimic the periostem's architecture, producing prototypes of the so-called "smart fabric." They tested the feasibility of rendering the weaves of the tissue using a computer design software. The team plans to use collagen and elastin to imitate the actual components of a biological tissue.

However, they faced a problem as collagen and elastin are too small to fit into the loom. The team, therefore, used an elastic material to replace elastin and used silk to replace the collagen. This resulted in the smart fabric that becomes stiff only on impact.

The researchers plan to develop a new range of textiles. With this new kind of technology, it is also possible to create thinner yet stronger steel-belt radial tires. But the best application the team envisions is to use the findings for medical innovation.

According to the lead author Joanna Ng, their goal is to "weave biological tissues - essentially human body parts - in the lab to replace and repair our failing joints that reflect the biology, architecture and mechanical properties of the periostem."

The smart fabric is still under development, but the initial results are promising enough that it could open possibilities for textile, military, and medical advancements.