Flexible Sensing Materials for Smart Healthcare: Fabrication and Performance Characterization of Antibacterial BC/PVA–PAA-TA-PEDOT-S Hydrogels

The demand for high-performance hydrogels in flexible sensors is growing, yet achieving stretchability, conductivity, sensory capabilities, and antimicrobial properties in a simple fabrication process remains challenging. This study integrates bacterial cellulose (BC) into a PVA/PAA/TA/PEDOT-S hydrogel system, addressing the trade-off between mechanical flexibility and electrical performance. With 18 wt % BC, the hydrogel achieved conductivity >11.25 S/cm, a tensile strength of 0.50 MPa (up from 0.16 MPa), and an elongation at break of 930.31% (up from 466.58%). The hydrogel demonstrated excellent strain sensitivity for motion detection, biocompatibility (>95% cell viability), and antibacterial activity, particularly against S. aureus. These findings highlight BC’s synergistic role in developing multifunctional hydrogels, offering a scalable approach for high-performance flexible electronics and wearable health monitoring technologies.