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A new oxygen-delivering gel called BioGel helps prevent amputations in diabetics with otherwise non-healing wounds. It solves one of the biggest challenges in healing: lack of oxygen deep in tissue. Researchers at the University of California Riverside report in Communications Materials that a novel battery-powered gel that supports both local oxygen production and cell growth can continuously supply oxygen directly into slow-healing wounds. It dramatically improves healing in early tests.

The BioGel system incorporates a bio-ionic liquid into gelatin methacryloyl that is conductive and biocompatible. Introducing a precise electric current with platinum or cobalt phosphate electrodes leads to oxygen generation by splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen.

The preclinical study was conducted in high-risk diabetic and older mice, not human patients. In the untreated animals, wounds festered and were often fatal. But in the treatment group, where the oxygen gel was applied and replaced weekly, wounds healed in about 23 days and survival improved significantly. The contrast was stark: nonhealing, deteriorating wounds in controls versus consistent closure and recovery in treated animals.

This gel delivers oxygen to the wound, speeds healing, and reduces the risk of amputation. However, this is still preclinical research, meaning human trials are needed before it becomes available for patients. Longer term, the same technology could even help in growing replacement tissues or organs.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43246-025-00947-4?error=server_error

‘https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260222153000.htm

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#diabetes #woundhealing #gel #electricity