According to a new issue of Nature Materials, a joint team from the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine and the California Institute of Technology is developing a series of cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to completely change the nursing field, including "smart bandages" that can automatically sense changes inside wounds and respond. This high-tech dressing has been optimized several times and can now continuously provide data on wound healing and potential complications, as well as real-time medication and other treatments. This technology actually belongs to a new type of electronic skin, indicating the direction of future digital health development. In order to improve intelligent bandage technology, the research team has comprehensively utilized new breakthroughs in materials science, nanotechnology, digital health, and other fields. With smart bandages, clinical doctors can now use wireless technology to detect inflammation, infection, or blood flow issues, and then issue alerts to patients and healthcare providers through Bluetooth, while providing real-time treatment instead of passively waiting for patients to come to the hospital to apply medicine to wounds. At present, animal model experiments have achieved good results. This smart bandage is made of various cutting-edge materials, including bioelectronic materials, which can transmit electrical stimulation to tissues and cells to help heal. Many smart bandages use advanced hydrogels, which are soft and flexible and can store and release drugs according to pH value, temperature or other environmental factors. The new intelligent bandage optimizes multiple sensors for detecting changes in the wound microenvironment. Electrochemical sensors can measure proteins, antibodies, nutrients, and electrolytes; Optical sensors can monitor temperature, pH, and oxygen levels; Imaging sensors can detect bacterial infections, measure wound depth and size to track healing progress. The team has been developing electronic skins in recent years, and this intelligent bandage is different from similar devices in the past. After collecting data, it can be immediately processed and analyzed using machine learning tools, allowing doctors to quickly and effectively monitor and care even remotely. Next, the team will explore a new wound care method that utilizes ultrasound technology to guide the implementation of gene therapy. Its goal is to stimulate the growth of blood vessels in the calf muscles to reduce the risk of amputation in patients with leg ulcers. This is actually a wearable bioelectronic AI system, which is as thin and lightweight as a "bandage", and more intelligent than large monitoring devices. It can assist or even participate in the entire process of patient wound healing. The team has achieved good results on animal models, and the next step will be to conduct testing on the human body, ultimately improving the monitoring and management of chronic wound patients, allowing doctors to receive "injury reports" remotely and control drug release or electrical stimulation treatment in real-time. (Lai Xin She)