HMN 2026: How Specialized sensor tracks wound pH continuously to monitor healing

In a study led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Levent Beker from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Koç University, researchers have developed a specialized wound dressing that incorporates a sensor that continuously measures the pH level of the wound environment. This technology aims to facilitate the monitoring of the healing process, particularly in chronic wounds. The study is published in the journal ACS Sensors.

Why chronic wounds need closer monitoring

The skin is the largest organ of the human body in contact with the external environment and serves as the first line of defense against injury. Acute skin wounds typically heal through successive phases of inflammation, new tissue formation, and remodeling. Chronic wounds, however, fail to complete these processes, and complete healing may not occur.

Chronic wounds particularly affect older individuals and pose a significant economic burden on health care systems in countries with aging populations. For this reason, close monitoring of the wound healing process is necessary to prevent wounds from becoming chronic.

The crucial role of pH changes

When a wound forms in the skin, the chemical properties of the wound environment change continuously throughout the healing process. One of the most important of these changes is pH. Variations in wound pH over time provide valuable information about the biological and chemical processes occurring at the wound site.

The specialized wound dressing developed by the researchers combines a gel-like structure that comes into direct contact with the wound surface with a thin paper-based layer that guides fluid transport. While the gel-like structure provides a wound-compatible interface that enables pH measurement, the paper-based structure allows controlled movement of wound exudate.

The study demonstrated that the combined operation of these two components offers a clear advantage in fluid management. Experimental results showed that the paper-based structure increased fluid absorption, providing approximately four times greater fluid uptake compared to systems using only the gel layer. This enables the sensor to remain in continuous contact with the wound environment.

Integrated design and sustainability benefits

The research integrates gel-based sensing and fluid-guiding approaches within a single system for monitoring the chemical properties of the wound environment. The experimental findings presented in the article demonstrate that the developed structure offers an integrated sensor platform suitable for long-term pH monitoring.

The sensor developed in the study incorporates relatively simple and naturally degradable materials, such as a paper-based structure and a chitosan-containing hydrogel. This feature offers a more sustainable approach for single-use wound dressing applications, both for users and for the environment.

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