Composite Hydrogel Modified with Gelatin-Imidazole: A Conductive and Adhesive Hydrogel

Abstract

Wearable sensors have the potential to revolutionize healthcare, sports, and overall well-being by offering personalized, continuous monitoring and actionable insights. They empower individuals to proactively manage their health, enhance clinical diagnostics, and advance preventive and precision healthcare. In this study, we developed conductive hydrogels containing acrylamide (AAM), polyacrylamide (PAAM), chemically modified poly(ethylene glycol) (DF-PEG), gelatin (Gel-ICM), and imidazole (SBVI). The investigation focused on the influence of different SBVI amounts on the hydrogel's mechanical and electrical properties. Specifically, we labeled hydrogels with 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% w/v SBVI as CH-0, CH-0.5, CH-1, CH-1.5, and CH-2, respectively. Our experimental results showed a 165% increase in elongation at break and a 63% decrease in electrical resistance for CH-1 compared to the CH-0 hydrogel. Moreover, the consistent relative resistance responses observed across various human joint movements, different strain rate tests, and durability assessments underscore the reliability and versatility of the CH-1 hydrogel as a strain sensor for potential applications in wearable electronic devices and biomechanical monitoring systems. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers in designing hydrogel-based materials with tailored electrical properties, unlocking their potential for a wide array of cutting-edge applications.