Demonstrates enhanced diabetic wound healing and emotional management in challenging conditions, suggesting a novel treatment approach.
Chronic diabetic wounds, characterized by persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation, present a significant healing challenge. While traditional hydrogels aid tissue repair, their functionality is often compromised at low temperatures. Herein, we report a polyphenol‐mediated conductive hydrogel that remains stable and functional at ‐80°C. Engineered from casein, dopamine‐modified poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene), and a synergistic antifreeze system (dopamine, gluten, glycerol), the hydrogel maintains its conductivity, bioactivity, and therapeutic efficacy after freezing. The hydrogel functions both as a therapeutic dressing and a bioelectronic interface. When coupled with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), the hydrogel synergistically accelerates full‐thickness wound healing by regulating inflammation, scavenging ROS, promoting macrophage M2 polarization, and enhancing angiogenesis. Its remarkable cryo‐stability is attributed to polyphenol‐mediated water confinement and cryoprotective gluten micelles. Concurrently, the hydrogel facilitates real‐time ECG, EMG, and EEG monitoring and enables VNS‐driven modulation of EEG‐α waves to alleviate depressive‐like behavior. This integrated system presents a novel therapeutic paradigm for managing both the physiological and psychological complications of diabetes, even under extreme environmental conditions.
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Hou et al. (2026) studied this question.
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