Smart Wound Dressing: The Future Of Advanced Wound Management: Review

Abstract

Healthcare is moving towards term personalized care based on continuous physiological monitoring. This shift increases the need for bioelectronic technologies. Bioelectronics has developed through three generations. First-generation systems used materials, which often failed to match the softness of tissue. Gaps could form at the interface triggering inflammation. Second-generation systems used stretchable materials to improve tissue contact and reduce mechanical stress. However stable attachment to moving tissue remained difficult limiting use. Recent work has therefore focused on third-generation bioelectronics. These systems combine soft electronic materials with multifunctional, adaptive human-machine interfaces that respond to mechanical and biochemical cues in the body. This review covers progress in adaptive interfaces grouped into mechano-adaptive and biophysiological adaptive approaches. We first discuss shape programmability, injectability, anti-swelling structures and self-healing. We then examine controlled permeability, anti-fibrotic design, tissue adhesion and biodegradability. Representative wearable and implantable systems are also reviewed. Finally, we consider the main challenges and future work needed to support long-term clinical use.