Bridging the Gap: Enabling Smart Wound Care through Hybrid Printed Electronics

The adoption of medical wearables in healthcare remains challenging. While there is a clear need to
transition toward digital, data-driven care, actual uptake—particularly in terms of reimbursement and
clinical integration—has been slow. One area where the benefits of digital innovation could be
especially impactful is wound management.

A compelling example of successful digital health implementation is continuous glucose monitoring
(CGM), which has transformed diabetes management by enabling real-time tracking, early
intervention, and improved patient outcomes. Wound care could benefit from a similar digital
Transformation.

Wound healing and early signs of infection can be tracked using a range of biophysical markers—such
as temperature, oxygen saturation, and pressure—as well as chemical and biological indicators
including pH, nitric oxide, and bacterial presence. However, wound assessment still often relies on
subjective observation rather than continuous, objective data.

Recent advancements in miniaturized electronics, sensor technologies, sustainable materials, and
scalable manufacturing are paving the way for next-generation solutions in wound care. These
innovations have the potential to improve healthcare efficiency, reduce clinical workload, accelerate
healing, and enhance both patient outcomes and quality of life—while also reducing the cost of care.

In this work, we present insights from medical and technology experts on the future of smart wound
care. A key enabler identified is hybrid printed electronics, which allow for scalable, cost-effective,
large-area and more sustainable manufacturing of smart wound dressings. Our research shows that
integrating components onto flexible substrates significantly enhances comfort and wearability,
compared to traditional rigid circuit board-based approaches.

We are also exploring eco-friendly materials with improved functionalities, supporting the
development of more sustainable medical devices.

Guided by clinical feedback, we developed several smart wound dressing concepts and conducted lab
testing to evaluate sensor accuracy, sensitivity, and wear duration over 5–10 days. Results highlight that
integrating multiple sensor modalities into a single flexible platform remains a major challenge—each
modality requires different material build-ups and design considerations.

The successful commercialization of smart wound dressings will depend on collaboration across
sectors—including technology development, manufacturing, clinical research, healthcare systems, and
policy reform. From a technical standpoint, once reliable integration is achieved and supported by
clinical validation, smart wound care will become a tangible and transformative reality