Multiple dynamic crosslinking induced collagen-based organogel ionic skin integrated with self-healing, adhesion, anti-freezing, and antibacterial performance for strain, temperature, and bioelectrode sensing monitoring

Li Zhao; Siyan Liu; Huishuang Li; Liyuan Zhang; Xubin Sun; Wenhua Yang; Liu Yang; Zhenye Wang; Jinwei Zhang; Yaohui You

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2025.138261

Multiple dynamic crosslinking induced collagen-based organogel ionic skin integrated with self-healing, adhesion, anti-freezing, and antibacterial performance for strain, temperature, and bioelectrode sensing monitoring

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2025 Jun 22;699(Pt 2):138261. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2025.138261. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Li Zhao¹, Siyan Liu², Huishuang Li², Liyuan Zhang³, Xubin Sun¹, Wenhua Yang¹, Liu Yang¹, Zhenye Wang⁴, Jinwei Zhang⁵, Yaohui You⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641112, China; Sichuan Science and Technology Resources Sharing Service Platform of Special Agricultural Resources in Tuojiang River Basin, Neijiang 641112, China; Key Laboratory of Fruit Waste Treatment and Resource Recycling of the Provincial Higher Learning Institutes, Neijiang 641112, China.
² College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641112, China.
³ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641112, China; Sichuan Science and Technology Resources Sharing Service Platform of Special Agricultural Resources in Tuojiang River Basin, Neijiang 641112, China; Key Laboratory of Fruit Waste Treatment and Resource Recycling of the Provincial Higher Learning Institutes, Neijiang 641112, China; Analytical and Testing Center, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641112, China.
⁴ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641112, China; Analytical and Testing Center, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641112, China.
⁵ College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
⁶ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641112, China; Sichuan Science and Technology Resources Sharing Service Platform of Special Agricultural Resources in Tuojiang River Basin, Neijiang 641112, China; Key Laboratory of Fruit Waste Treatment and Resource Recycling of the Provincial Higher Learning Institutes, Neijiang 641112, China. Electronic address: allenyouyaohui@163.com.

PMID: 40578082
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2025.138261

Abstract

Ionic skin based on conductive hydrogel has received considerable attention in sensing applications because of its flexibility and conductivity. Collagen, as a main component of the natural extracellular matrix, is an ideal candidate for constructing hydrogel-based bionic ionic skin. However, developing a collagen-based ionic skin integrated with multi-functions (e.g., self-healing, self-adhesion, anti-frozen, cytocompatibility, and antibacterial abilities) and multi-mode sensing capacities remains an important yet challenging task. In this work, inspired by the idea of leather tanning, a multifunctional organogel ionic skin was successfully constructed through multiple dynamic bonds (metal coordination, hydrophobic interaction, and hydrogen bonds) based on collagen, black wattle bark tannin, acrylic acid, and Zr⁴⁺. As a result of dynamic interactions and raw materials, the developed collagen-based organogel ionic skin has good mechanical properties, self-healing performance (healing efficiency of 83.2 %), and conductivity. Ingeniously introducing glycerol and silver nanoparticles enabled the ionic skin to exhibit good environmental suitability (anti-freezing and moisture retention) and antibacterial properties. The ionic skin also showed good adhesion (shear stress of 26.5 kPa to sheepskin) and cytocompatibility. Such multifunctional ionic skin can be assembled as a multi-modal sensor, which displays satisfactory sensitivity to strain, temperature, and bioelectricity with good signal stability and repeatability. This work not only provides a versatile approach for fabricating a multifunctional collagen-based organogel ionic skin for next-generation flexible devices but also promotes the high-value utilization of collagen.

Keywords: Collagen; Conductive organogel; Ionic skin; Multi-functions; Multi-modal sensing.