Review Summary
Wound infections, caused by the colonization of pathogenic organisms, pose a significant health challenge. The wound bed provides an ideal environment for rapid microbial growth. While several clinical methods exist for detecting wound infections, they can be unreliable due to variable presentation profiles, are time-consuming, and may cause discomfort to patients. Timely detection is critical to prevent infections from becoming severe or spreading deeper into the body. This review highlights the development of theranostic smart wound dressings, which enable simultaneous monitoring and treatment of wound infections by responding to the wound environment. It explores various smart dressings and their theranostic applications in advanced wound care.