Zupakrem

Zupakrem is a fictional synthetic polymer that appears in science fiction literature and world-building guides as a biocompatible hydrogel with tunable mechanical properties and degradation rates. In real-world science, there is no verified material by this name, and zupakrem should be understood as a story element rather than a proven substance.

Its depicted composition typically involves a copolymer of acrylamide-like units and poly(ethylene glycol) segments, crosslinked with flexible diacrylate linkers, and functionalized to promote cell adhesion or cargo binding. In most treatments, properties such as swelling, stiffness, and biodegradation are controlled by crosslink density, molecular weight, and end-group modifications.

Zupakrem is described as forming clear, viscoelastic gels that are stable at physiological temperatures, can be injected, and can gradually release therapeutic agents. Common applications in fiction include tissue engineering scaffolds, wound dressings, injectable drug-delivery vehicles, and components for soft robotics.

Within fictional universes, regulatory oversight and safety considerations are discussed, and sterilization, batch-to-batch variation, and long-term biocompatibility are topics of debate. The name is not associated with any real chemical substance or product in current scientific literature.