Recent Advances in Smart Wound Healing Patches: From Passive Dressings to Intelligent Theranostic Systems

Abstract

Wound healing remains a complex and multifaceted physiological process, especially in the treatment of chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers, burns, and pressure injuries. Conventional wound dressings work primarily as passive barriers, failing to provide dynamic interaction with the wound milieu, resulting in delayed healing and an increased risk of infection. Recent breakthroughs in biomaterials science, nanotechnology, and bioengineering have resulted in the creation of next-generation wound healing patches with multifunctional properties. These include hydrogel-based systems, bioactive and nanocomposite dressings, microneedle patches, and smart wearable platforms with real-time monitoring and controlled medication delivery. Smart and stimuli-responsive wound patches have emerged as viable solutions, allowing for adaptive therapeutic responses to wound-specific factors such as pH, temperature, and reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, the combination of biosensors with wearable electronics has enabled continuous, non-invasive monitoring of wound states, allowing for individualized and data-driven treatment plans. Theranostic wound patches, which combine diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities on a single platform, represent a major paradigm shift in wound care. Despite these advances, obstacles such as high costs, regulatory constraints, insufficient clinical validation, and long-term safety concerns impede widespread clinical implementation. Future advancements are projected to center on the integration of artificial intelligence, self-powered systems, 3D bioprinting, and regenerative therapies to enable entirely autonomous and individualized wound management. This study gives a thorough account of recent breakthroughs in wound healing patches, emphasizing material innovations, technological advancements, clinical uses, and future prospects in this rapidly growing subject.