Animal study shows oxygen gel enhances wound healing in diabetic mice — Evidence Review

Researchers at UC Riverside have developed an oxygen-delivering gel that accelerated healing of chronic wounds in diabetic and older mice, suggesting a potential strategy to reduce amputation risk. Related studies generally support the benefit of sustained oxygen delivery for diabetic wound healing, though approaches and outcomes vary across research. See the full study in Nature Communications Material.

• Several studies report that oxygen-releasing wound dressings, hydrogels, or patches accelerate healing in diabetic wounds by addressing hypoxia, reducing inflammation, and enhancing tissue repair, aligning with the new findings 1 2 3 4 5.
• While oxygen therapy in various forms shows promise in animal models and preclinical studies, the effectiveness of clinical hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for diabetic wounds remains debated, with some randomized trials and reviews finding limited benefit for healing or amputation prevention 6 7 8 9 10.
• The new study’s approach is consistent with literature emphasizing the need for sustained local oxygen delivery and addressing inflammation to overcome barriers in chronic wound healing, supporting a shift toward multifunctional biomaterials in future therapies 1 2 3 5 11 12.

Study Overview and Key Findings

Chronic wounds, particularly among older adults and individuals with diabetes, represent a significant and growing health challenge due to increased infection risk and the threat of amputation. The UC Riverside team sought to address a central barrier in chronic wound healing—oxygen deprivation at the wound site—by developing a soft, flexible gel capable of continuously delivering oxygen deep into damaged tissue. Unlike traditional bandages or surface oxygen therapies, this gel adapts to the wound’s shape and maintains a steady oxygen supply for up to a month.

The study was conducted in diabetic and older mice, which model key aspects of chronic wounds seen in humans. Results showed that wounds treated with the oxygen-releasing gel healed within about 23 days, while untreated wounds often did not close and led to animal death. The gel’s choline-based components also showed potential for modulating inflammation and supporting immune balance, further supporting tissue repair.

Property	Value
Organization	UC Riverside
Journal Name	Nature Communications Material
Authors	Iman Noshadi, Prince David Okoro, Baishali Kanjilal
Population	Diabetic and older mice
Methods	Animal Study
Outcome	Wound healing and survival rates
Results	Wounds healed in about 23 days with the oxygen gel

Literature Review: Related Studies

To contextualize these findings, we searched the Consensus research database, which includes over 200 million scientific papers. The following queries were used to identify relevant literature:

1. oxygen gel diabetic wound healing
2. amputation prevention oxygen therapy
3. wound healing time diabetic patients

Below, major topics and findings from related studies are summarized.

Topic	Key Findings
How does local oxygen delivery impact chronic wound healing in diabetes?	- Oxygen-releasing dressings and hydrogels accelerate wound closure, promote angiogenesis, and reduce oxidative stress in diabetic wounds 1 2 3 4 5. - Sustained and targeted oxygen delivery supports tissue regeneration, with multiple studies showing improved healing outcomes in animal models 1 3 4 5.
What is the effectiveness of systemic hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for diabetic wounds?	- Some RCTs and reviews suggest HBOT can reduce major amputations or improve healing in certain patient subsets, but results are inconsistent 6 7. - Other large studies and RCTs show HBOT does not significantly improve healing rates or prevent amputations in diabetic foot ulcers compared to standard care 8 9 10.
What are key challenges and strategies in treating diabetic wounds?	- Chronic diabetic wounds are characterized by hypoxia, persistent inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, and high infection risk; therapies targeting these mechanisms show promise 11 12. - Multifunctional hydrogels and biomaterials, as well as drug repurposing, are active areas of research for wound healing 5 14.
What are typical healing times and outcomes for diabetic foot ulcers?	- Healing times for diabetic foot ulcers are often long (weeks to months), with factors such as infection, ulcer location, and glycemic control affecting duration 13 15. - Standard care alone results in significant rates of non-healing, amputation, or recurrence, underscoring the need for improved therapies 13 15.

How does local oxygen delivery impact chronic wound healing in diabetes?

Studies consistently show that local, sustained oxygen delivery—via oxygen-releasing hydrogels, patches, or dressings—can accelerate the healing of chronic diabetic wounds. These approaches address hypoxia, promote blood vessel formation, and reduce inflammation and infection, resulting in faster wound closure in animal models. The new UC Riverside gel aligns closely with these findings, offering a prolonged and targeted oxygen supply to support tissue repair.

• Oxygen-releasing dressings, such as OxOBand and microalgae-gel patches, have demonstrated enhanced wound closure, increased collagen deposition, and improved neo-vascularization in diabetic wound models 1 4.
• Injectable hydrogels that combine oxygen delivery with antioxidant and antibacterial properties further promote healing and regulate inflammation 2 3.
• Sustained oxygenation—rather than intermittent or surface-only delivery—is highlighted as critical for effective repair 3 4.
• The new study’s gel, which adapts to wound geometry and maintains oxygen flow for weeks, builds on these principles and supports findings from multiple preclinical studies 1 2 3 4 5.

What is the effectiveness of systemic hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for diabetic wounds?

The clinical benefit of systemic HBOT for diabetic wounds remains debated. While some randomized trials and systematic reviews indicate that HBOT may reduce major amputations or improve healing rates in select patients, other large studies and trials find no significant advantage over standard wound care. The new gel-based approach differs by providing local, continuous oxygenation, potentially overcoming the limitations seen with systemic therapy.

• Some studies report that HBOT, as an adjunct to multidisciplinary care, can reduce major amputation rates in patients with severe ischemic diabetic foot ulcers 6 7.
• Other research, including randomized trials and observational studies, shows no significant improvement in healing or amputation rates with HBOT compared to comprehensive standard care 8 9 10.
• Variability in outcomes may be due to patient selection, ulcer type, protocol adherence, or differences in oxygen delivery methods 7 10.
• The local approach used in the new study may offer targeted benefits not achieved by systemic HBOT, as suggested by preclinical successes of local oxygen delivery 1 2 3 4 5.

What are key challenges and strategies in treating diabetic wounds?

Chronic diabetic wounds involve complex pathologies, including hypoxia, chronic inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, and infection. Recent research focuses on therapies that address these multiple barriers simultaneously, such as multifunctional hydrogels and biomaterials that provide oxygen, modulate inflammation, and promote tissue regeneration. The new oxygen gel represents a step in this direction.

• Chronic wounds in diabetes are driven by a combination of hypoxia, persistent inflammation, and high susceptibility to infection 11 12.
• Multifunctional hydrogels that combine oxygen release, antioxidant effects, and immune modulation are under development to target these mechanisms 2 5 11 12.
• Repurposing existing drugs (e.g., metformin, statins) and tailoring biomaterial-based therapies are promising strategies for future care 14.
• The new study’s gel, which provides both oxygen and choline (with anti-inflammatory properties), illustrates the trend toward integrated, multi-target approaches 1 2 5 11 12.

What are typical healing times and outcomes for diabetic foot ulcers?

Healing times for diabetic foot ulcers are commonly prolonged, with many wounds taking several weeks to months to close under standard care. Factors such as infection, ulcer location, and glycemic control are significant determinants of healing duration and outcomes. The accelerated healing observed in the new study (about 23 days in mice) contrasts with the slow healing often seen in human diabetic wounds, highlighting the need for new interventions.

• Median healing times for diabetic foot ulcers in clinical settings are often 6 months or longer, with high rates of amputation or recurrence 13 15.
• Infection is a major factor prolonging healing, while ulcers localized to the toe and good glycemic control shorten healing time 13 15.
• Standard wound care frequently results in non-healing or amputation, underscoring the need for therapies that can expedite closure and improve quality of life 13 15.
• The effectiveness of the oxygen gel in animal models suggests potential to improve upon current healing timelines if translated successfully to human care 1 3 4 5.

Future Research Questions

While the new oxygen-delivering gel shows promise in preclinical models, further investigation is needed to determine its safety, effectiveness, and applicability in humans. Key areas for future research include clinical translation, long-term outcomes, integration with existing therapies, and broader applications in tissue engineering.

Research Question	Relevance
How effective is the UC Riverside oxygen gel in human clinical trials for chronic diabetic wounds?	Translation to human trials is necessary to establish safety, efficacy, and practical benefits, as most current evidence is from animal studies 1 2 3 4 5.
What are the long-term outcomes and potential adverse effects of sustained oxygen gel application in wound care?	Assessing risks such as tissue over-oxidation, disruption of normal healing, or unforeseen immune responses is critical for clinical adoption 2 3 5.
How does local oxygen therapy compare to systemic HBOT in terms of efficacy and cost-effectiveness for amputation prevention?	Direct comparisons can clarify which patient populations benefit most from each approach, informing treatment guidelines and resource allocation 6 7 8 9 10.
Can multifunctional gels that combine oxygen delivery, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory properties further improve chronic wound healing?	Integrating multiple therapeutic actions may better address the complex pathology of chronic wounds, as indicated by promising results with multifunctional biomaterials 1 2 5 11 12.
What are the potential applications of oxygen-releasing gels in tissue engineering and organ regeneration?	Sustained oxygen and nutrient delivery is a key challenge in tissue engineering; adapting these gels could support growth and survival of complex engineered tissues or organs 1 2 3.

---

This article provides an objective, evidence-based overview of a new oxygen-delivering gel for chronic wound care, contextualized within the broader landscape of diabetic wound healing research. The findings suggest a promising direction for future therapies but highlight the need for continued investigation and clinical validation.