Multifunctional biogel-integrated wireless e-bandage for smartphone-controlled diabetic wound management

Chronic diabetic wounds, among the most persistent clinical complications of diabetes mellitus, arise from a convergence of sustained inflammation, microbial colonization, oxidative stress, and impaired angiogenesis. Conventional wound care strategies often fail to simultaneously address these interconnected pathological barriers, resulting in delayed healing and high recurrent infection. Herein, we report a smartphone-integrated wearable e-bandage incorporating a multifunctional conductive biogel (ZnG-BG) for accelerated diabetic wound repair. ZnG-BG was fabricated using Prosopis juliflora gum, chitosan, gelatin, and bio-capped ZnO nanoparticles, yielding a thermoresponsive, adhesive (42.2 kPa), flexible, and electrically conductive (0.005–0.035 S/cm) interface capable of intimate skin contact and stable signal transmission. Moreover, ZnG-BG exhibited broad antibacterial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities, while its combination with electrical stimulation (ES) further enhanced bacterial killing and biofilm disruption. Cellular studies demonstrated reduced intracellular oxidative stress and modulation of macrophage inflammatory responses, supporting a favorable microenvironment for tissue repair. In vitro, ES + ZnG-BG enhanced fibroblast migration while maintaining favorable cytocompatibility. The wearable e-bandage delivered monophasic rectangular pulses (35 V, 100 Hz, 100 µs pulse width, 1% duty cycle), while the ZnG-BG interface reduced tissue–electrode impedance and facilitated electrical coupling. In a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model, ES + ZnG-BG achieved 99.4 ± 0.5% wound closure within 14 days, outperforming the individual treatments. Histological and molecular analyses demonstrated improved tissue regeneration and collagen organization accompanied by attenuation of pro-inflammatory signaling (TNF-α, IL-6) and progression toward a pro-regenerative (IL-10, TGF-β) wound environment. Systemic biosafety evaluation further revealed no detectable treatment-related abnormalities in hematological and biochemical parameters or major-organ histology. By seamlessly integrating wearable bioelectronics with a multifunctional ZnG-BG interface, this work introduces a minimally invasive and adaptable therapeutic platform with substantial translational relevance for chronic diabetic wound management.