Antibacterial and biodegradable bandage with exudate absorption and smart monitoring for chronic wound management

Despite the promising potential of smart bandages in wound care, the lack of effective integration among infection control, exudate management, and real-time wound monitoring remains a major obstacle in clinical application. Herein, neomycin (NEO)-grafted cellulose-based nonwovens (CNs) were used as the antibacterial network and blueberry extract (anthocyanin, AC) as the colorimetric additive to create the excellent dual network gel (DNG) bandage for smart bandages along with a polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose nanofiber (PVA/CNFs) matrix. The aerogel bandage loaded with AC demonstrates a pH-sensitive color-changing response and high-efficiency free radical scavenging ability (all greater than 93.61%), enabling the in-situ monitoring of wound healing and inhibiting wound inflammation, while the nonwoven network grafted with NEO endows the aerogel composites with excellent antibacterial properties (>99% against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli). In vivo evaluation using a S. aureus-infected full-thickness wound model in mice demonstrated that the DNG bandage significantly accelerated wound healing and improved tissue regeneration, outperforming commercial dressings. Furthermore, upon absorbing exudate, the aerogel converts into a hydrogel, providing efficient fluid absorption and preventing wound re-contamination, thereby achieving dynamic exudate management. Evidently, the DNG smart bandage is a promising management tool for the synergistic treatment of persistent wounds and introduces a fresh strategy for medical regenerative medicine.