Advances in Wearable Biosensors for Wound Healing and Infection Monitoring.

Abstract

Wound healing is a complicated biological process that is important for restoring tissue integrity and function after injury. Infection, usually due to bacterial colonization, significantly complicates this process by hindering the course of healing and enhancing the chances of systemic complications. Recent advances in wearable biosensors have transformed wound care by making real-time monitoring of biomarkers such as pH, temperature, moisture, and infection-related metabolites like trimethylamine and uric acid. This review focuses on recent advances in biosensor technologies designed for wound management. Novel sensor architectures, such as flexible and stretchable electronics, colorimetric patches, and electrochemical platforms, enable the non-invasive detection of changes associated with wounds with high specificity and sensitivity. These are increasingly combined with AI and analytics based on smartphones that can enable timely and personalized interventions. Examples are the PETAL patch sensor that applies multiple sensing mechanisms for wide-ranging views on wound status and closed-loop systems that connect biosensors to therapeutic devices to automate infection control. Additionally, self-powered biosensors that tap into body heat or energy from the biofluids themselves avoid any external batteries and are thus more effective in field use or with limited resources. Internet of Things connectivity allows further support for remote sharing and monitoring of data, thus supporting telemedicine applications. Although wearable biosensors have developed relatively rapidly and their prospects continue to expand, regular clinical application is stalled by significant challenges such as regulatory, cost, patient compliance, and technical problems related to sensor accuracy, biofouling, and power, among others, that need to be addressed by innovative solutions. The goal of this review is to synthesize current trends, challenges, and future directions in wound healing and infection monitoring, with emphasis on the potential for wearable biosensors to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare burdens. These innovations are leading the way toward next-generation wound care by bridging advanced materials science, biotechnology, and digital health.