Real-Time Monitoring of Wound States via Rationally Engineered Biosensors

Current strategies for real-time wound monitoring have limited applicability and therapeutic efficiency due to the reliance on clinician experience and time-consuming laboratory analysis requirements. In this article, an educational review is provided on the accumulated knowledge of wound healing, such as the characterization of acute and chronic wounds, the four main stages of wound healing, and the factors that influence wound healing. The current state-of-the-art wound state sensing methods are presented and reviewed, with particular attention paid to the real-time monitoring of pH, biofilms, electrophysiological signals, temperature, and reactive oxygen species. It is expected that the presentation of this evolving field will contribute to deepen the existing understanding of wounds and steer wound treatment toward real-time precision to drive further and faster development of clinically valuable technologies.