Novel Gel Helps Heal Chronic Wounds and Reduce Amputation Risk

UC Riverside researchers develop oxygen-releasing gel to address a key obstacle to wound healing.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have developed an innovative oxygen-delivering gel that shows promise in dramatically improving healing outcomes for chronic wounds and reducing the need for limb amputations. The gel, which can be powered by a small battery, generates a steady stream of oxygen directly within the wound to address a fundamental obstacle to healing - lack of oxygen in the deepest layers of damaged tissue. Studies on animal models found the gel helped wounds heal within about 23 days, compared to consistently failed healing in untreated subjects.

Why it matters

Chronic wounds, which resist healing for over a month, represent a growing health challenge as populations age and diabetes rates rise. Affecting an estimated 12 million people globally each year, these injuries significantly elevate the risk of infection, tissue damage, and amputation. Around one in five chronic wound patients ultimately require limb loss, a life-altering procedure. This new gel technology aims to directly address the oxygen deprivation that disrupts the body's natural healing processes.

The details

The gel is composed of water and a choline-based liquid that is antibacterial, nontoxic, and biocompatible. When connected to a small battery, the gel functions as an electrochemical device, splitting water molecules and releasing a steady stream of oxygen. Unlike existing treatments that primarily deliver oxygen to the wound surface, this gel conforms to the precise contours of the injury, providing targeted oxygen delivery to the areas most in need. The gel can continuously supply oxygen for up to a month, helping to restart the healing process.

  • The UCR research team published their findings in the journal Nature Communications Materials in February 2026.

The players

Iman Noshadi

UCR associate professor of bioengineering and leader of the research team that developed the oxygen-delivering gel.

Prince David Okoro

A doctoral candidate in bioengineering at UCR and co-author of the study on the oxygen-generating gel.

Baishali Kanjilal

A UCR bioengineer and co-author of the study on the oxygen-delivering gel.

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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, UCR associate professor of bioengineering

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

— Prince David Okoro, Doctoral candidate in bioengineering at UCR

“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 in bioengineering at UCR

What’s next

The researchers envision this technology as a stepping stone towards creating and sustaining larger, more complex tissues for transplantation, as the oxygen and nutrient delivery challenges they addressed are significant hurdles in the field of regenerative medicine.

The takeaway

This innovative oxygen-delivering gel represents a promising advancement in the treatment of chronic wounds, which pose a growing health challenge. By directly addressing the lack of oxygen that disrupts natural healing processes, the gel has the potential to dramatically improve outcomes and reduce the need for limb amputations, a life-altering procedure for many patients.