In situ development of self-healing, injectable, glucose- and pH-responsive electroconductive composite hydrogels

This study presents an in situ gelation strategy for creating multifunctional PEGDA-based composite hydrogels that combine self-healing, injectability, electrical conductivity, and glucose- and pH-responsive behavior. The hydrogel network is formed through borax-catalyzed thiol–acrylate Michael addition and dynamic boronate ester crosslinking, enabling reversible bonding and stimulus responsiveness. Conductive fillers including gold nanoparticles, PEDOT:PSS, and MXene were incorporated during gelation to create electroactive hydrogel systems with enhanced stretchability, adhesiveness, and conductivity. Mechanical characterization demonstrated that the hydrogels could sustain large tensile deformations while maintaining structural integrity and recovering mechanical performance after self-healing. In vitro studies further showed glucose- and pH-triggered drug release, antibacterial activity, and enhanced wound closure, highlighting the potential of these materials for smart wound dressings and wearable biomedical devices.