Biomarkers and smart wound dressings: systematic review

Objective: Evaluate a number of biomarkers that can objectively measure the wound healing process, and identify the materials that could replicate this in smart wound dressings. Method: A systematic review was conducted to establish the use of materials sensitive to biomarkers. Publications in English were included. Review articles and abstracts presented at conferences were excluded. Results: A total of 296 studies were identified, of which 19 were included. All of these were experimental studies. The articles evaluated pH, temperature, blood pressure, uric acid, and glucose. The materials used were hydrogels, fibres and conductive inks. Conclusion: The most cited biomarker was pH. Materials that evaluate biomarkers via colorimetric methods could be the most suitable to incorporate into smart wound dressings.