Hydrogel Sensors for Wound Monitoring: Mechanisms, Applications, and Clinical Translation

초록

Hydrogel sensors are promising platforms for continuous wound monitoring because of their high water content, tissue-like mechanical properties, and ability to convert biochemical and physical stimuli into measurable signals. This review examines hydrogel-based sensing systems for wound healing by distinguishing fundamental transduction mechanisms from clinical performance, thereby clarifying both material design principles and translational potential. Electrochemical, optical, pH-responsive, thermoresponsive, and mechanical sensing modalities are analyzed with emphasis on quantitative metrics, including detection limits, response times, sensitivity, and reversibility. Design strategies incorporating conductive nanomaterials, plasmonic nanoparticles, and stimuli-responsive polymers are discussed in relation to composition-performance relationships. Clinical studies demonstrate earlier infection detection and improved prediction of inflammation and delayed healing, while newer platforms enable closed-loop therapeutic responses such as triggered antimicrobial release and electrical stimulation. Despite these advances, clinical translation remains limited by signal instability, biofouling, sterilization constraints, wireless power requirements, and regulatory complexity. This review outlines strategies to advance hydrogel sensors toward clinically deployable wound management systems.

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