Oxygen-Releasing Gel Heals Chronic Wounds & Reduces Amputation Risk

UC Riverside researchers develop a battery-powered gel that delivers oxygen directly to chronic wounds.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have developed a battery-powered gel designed to deliver oxygen directly to chronic wounds, a development that could significantly reduce the number of amputations linked to diabetes and aging-related health issues. The gel, described in a recent paper in Nature Communications Materials, addresses a critical factor in delayed wound healing: oxygen deprivation in damaged tissue.

Why it matters

Chronic wounds, defined as those that fail to heal within a month, affect approximately 12 million people globally each year, with around 4.5 million cases occurring in the United States. Roughly one in five patients with chronic wounds ultimately require amputation. The newly developed gel aims to create a more favorable environment for tissue repair by delivering a stable oxygen supply and calming the inflammatory response.

The details

The gel is composed of water and a choline-based liquid, rendering it antibacterial, nontoxic, and biocompatible. When connected to a small battery, the gel functions as a miniature electrochemical device, splitting water molecules to release a continuous stream of oxygen. This targeted oxygen delivery differs from existing wound care treatments that primarily focus on surface-level oxygenation. Researchers tested the gel on diabetic and older mice, whose wounds closely mimic those seen in human patients. Untreated animals experienced persistent wounds that often proved fatal, but when treated with the oxygen-producing gel, the wounds healed within approximately 23 days, and the animals survived.

  • The research was published in a recent paper in Nature Communications Materials.

The players

Iman Noshadi

An associate professor of bioengineering at the University of California, Riverside, and the lead researcher on the project.

Prince David Okoro

A doctoral candidate in Noshadi's lab and a co-author of the research paper.

Baishali Kanjilal

A UCR bioengineer and co-author of the study.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Chronic wounds don't heal by themselves. There are four stages to healing chronic wounds: inflammation, vascularization where tissue starts making blood vessels, remodeling and regeneration or healing. In any of these stages, lack of a stable, consistent oxygen supply is a big problem.”

— Iman Noshadi, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside

“We could build this patch as a product where the gel may require to be renewed periodically.”

— Prince David Okoro, Doctoral Candidate, University of California, Riverside

“There are bandages that absorb fluid, and some that release antimicrobial agents. But none of them really address hypoxia, which is the fundamental problem. We're tackling that directly.”

— Prince David Okoro, Doctoral Candidate, University of California, Riverside

“Our sedentary lifestyles are causing our immune responses to decrease. It's hard to get to societal roots of our problems. But this innovation represents a chance to reduce amputations, improve quality of life, and give the body what it needs to heal itself.”

— Baishali Kanjilal, Bioengineer, University of California, Riverside

What’s next

The researchers suggest the technology could have applications beyond chronic wound care, potentially aiding in the development of lab-grown organs and tissues, where oxygen and nutrient delivery are significant challenges.

The takeaway

This oxygen-releasing gel represents a significant advancement in chronic wound care, addressing the critical issue of oxygen deprivation in damaged tissue. By directly delivering a stable oxygen supply and regulating the immune response, the gel aims to create an optimal environment for tissue repair and reduce the risk of amputations linked to chronic wounds.