Multifunctional hydrogel sensor with Tough, self-healing capabilities and highly sensitive for motion monitoring and wound healing

• we report a multifunctional hydrogel sensor with self-healing, motion monitoring, and non-antibiotic bactericidal properties that can promote wound healing. • This sensor possesses excellent biocompatibility and multifunctional therapeutic properties, including flexibility, self-healing characteristics, and tunable photothermal conversion capability. • The high sensitivity sensor (GF=8.5) can also monitor various human activities, including large movements and small strain signals to diagnose related activities and diseases. • In a diabetic wound model, the MHPBA-GO demonstrated excellent multiple functions such as ROS scavenging, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, macrophage polarization modulation, and angiogenesis can serve as an effective wound dressing to accelerate the healing process. Flexible epidermal sensors based on conductive hydrogels hold great potential for wearable devices and personal medical monitoring. Integrating real-time monitoring of injury and motion activities can essentially enhance treatment outcomes by providing detailed data to guide clinical practice. However, the application of conductive hydrogel epidermal sensors in diverse remains challenging. In this study, a multifunctional PVA/AM/AAPBA/Graphene Oxide (referred to as MHPBA-GO hydrogel) was designed as an epidermal sensor for combined functions of accelerating wound healing and motion sensing. This sensor possesses excellent biocompatibility and multifunctional therapeutic properties, including flexibility, self-healing features, and tunable photothermal conversion capability. It can sensitively monitor human motion and small electrophysiological signals to diagnose related activities and diseases. The corresponding gauge factor (GF) values under 0–200% strain are 1.8 (0–90%), 2.1 (90–160%), and 8.5 (160–200%), respectively. Furthermore, using a diabetic rat mode demonstrated that the composite hydrogel sensor can be used as an efficient wound dressing to promote wound healing. This study provides a valuable reference and guidance for the development of flexible epidermal sensors with multifunctionality for personal health monitoring.