MXene-based flexible electronic materials for wound infection detection and treatment

Wound infection is a worldwide health issue that not only brings large detrimental effects to people's physical and mental health, but also causes substantial economic burdens to society. By using traditional surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy, patients generally suffer more pain and are at risk of recurring infections. Thus, the development of non-antibiotic treatment methods is desperately needed. Currently, the emerging of flexible wound dressings with physiological signal detection, inactivated infectious pathogen, and wound-healing promoting properties has exhibited immense potential for the treatment of infected wound. Among various dressings, MXene-based flexible electronic materials as wound dressings with special electroactive, mechanical, photophysical, and biological performances possess a broad application prospect in healthcare. In this review, the challenges of infected wound management are introduced. Next, the types of MXene-based flexible materials and wound infection features are outlined. Then the recent advance of MXene-based flexible materials for infected wound detection and treatment is summarized. Lastly, the predicaments, prospects, and future directions of MXene-based flexible materials for infected wound management are discussed.