Flexible, conductive and durable hydrogels based on a gluten–poly(vinyl alcohol) complex for electrode patches and wound dressings

Abstract

Wound dressing and electrotherapy are effective approaches for wound repair. However, the electrodes of the electrical stimulation device showed poor conformability with epidermal wounds due to the small size and high rigidity. It is urgent to develop a skin adhesive that combines tissue regeneration and conductivity. This study reported a hydrogel dressing with integrated conductive and efficient wound repair function. Specifically, a curcumin (Cur) and Mg²⁺-functionalized gluten–poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–glycerol (GPG–Mg–Cur) hydrogel was prepared by freezing and thawing cycles, which had a polymer network structure formed based on the hydrogen bond interaction. The GPG–Mg–Cur hydrogel with MgCl₂ of 12.5 wt% exhibited high toughness (460 kJ m⁻³), adhesion strength (18.3 kPa), and conductivity (0.58 and 0.52 S m⁻¹ at room temperature and −20 °C, respectively), and responded sensitively to 5–200% strain cycles. Moreover, GPG–Mg–Cur hydrogels showed good conductivity and durability after finger bending, walking, and running movements, and even worked at −20 °C and underwater environments. In a mouse model of skin injury, GPG–Mg–Cur hydrogels with sustained release of Cur promoted the proliferation of fibroblasts and showed a 91% healing rate of the wound, providing a regenerative microenvironment for damaged tissues. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of GPG–Mg–Cur hydrogels as a multifunctional wound dressing that integrates wound repair and assisted electrotherapy.