Chronic wound management remains a significant clinical challenge, particularly for patients with diabetes, vascular disorders, or prolonged immobility. Traditional wound care relies on periodic visual inspection and manual dressing changes, which often fail to capture real-time physiological changes. Flexible semiconductor devices offer a transformative approach by integrating multifunctional sensing and therapeutic capabilities directly onto conformable substrates. Unlike generic flexible electronics, which prioritize mechanical durability for consumer or industrial use, biomedical-grade flexible semiconductors must meet stringent biocompatibility, sterilization, and long-term stability requirements in moist, dynamic wound environments.
One critical parameter in chronic wound monitoring is pH, as elevated alkalinity often correlates with prolonged inflammation and infection. Flexible pH sensors leverage semiconductor materials such as silicon nanomembranes, metal oxides, or organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) to achieve high sensitivity across the physiologically relevant range of 5.5 to 8.0. For instance, indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) thin-film transistors functionalized with pH-responsive polymers exhibit a sensitivity of 50 mV per pH unit, enabling resolution of 0.1 pH changes. These devices integrate with wireless readout circuits to transmit data continuously without impeding wound healing. Unlike rigid probes, their ultrathin geometry minimizes mechanical stress on fragile granulation tissue.
Temperature mapping provides another critical diagnostic metric, as localized hyperthermia may indicate infection while hypothermia suggests poor perfusion. Flexible thermistors fabricated from silicon or polymer composites achieve thermal resolution below 0.1°C across a 30–40°C range. Distributed sensor arrays constructed via transfer printing or inkjet techniques create spatial thermal profiles, identifying hotspots with submillimeter precision. A key advancement is the decoupling of temperature measurements from strain artifacts, which is accomplished through serpentine interconnect designs or differential sensor architectures.
Electroceutical stimulation represents an active therapeutic modality, where flexible semiconductors deliver controlled electrical pulses to accelerate wound closure. Clinical studies demonstrate that biphasic currents in the range of 100–300 μA can enhance fibroblast migration and reduce bacterial biofilm formation. Flexible electrodes made from conductive hydrogels or gold-doped graphene maintain stable impedance over weeks of operation, avoiding the fibrosis risks associated with rigid implants. Integrated systems combine sensing and stimulation, using real-time pH or temperature data to modulate stimulation parameters autonomously.
Material selection for these devices prioritizes not only electrical performance but also biodegradation profiles for temporary implants or long-term stability for chronic use. For example, silicon membranes thinner than 5 μm exhibit benign bioresorption rates, while polyimide-encapsulated electronics withstand months of enzymatic exposure. Barrier layers such as silicon carbide or alumina nanocoatings prevent ion diffusion that could degrade transistor operation in wet environments.
A distinct advantage over non-biomedical flexible electronics is the need for sterilization compatibility. Ethylene oxide gas or low-temperature plasma processing ensures device safety without damaging heat-sensitive components. Additionally, the mechanical compliance of these devices must accommodate not just bending but also stretching and compression from wound contraction during healing.
Future directions include the integration of machine learning algorithms to predict wound progression from multisensor data streams and the development of fully bioresorbable systems that eliminate removal procedures. Challenges remain in scaling production to meet clinical demand and in achieving consistent performance across diverse wound types. Nevertheless, flexible semiconductor devices are poised to redefine chronic wound management by merging diagnostics and therapy into seamless, patient-specific solutions.
The convergence of semiconductor innovation with biomedical engineering has yielded tools that transcend passive monitoring, offering closed-loop systems capable of autonomous intervention. As these technologies mature, their impact will extend beyond wound care to other areas of personalized medicine, where real-time physiological feedback guides precision therapies.