Smartphone-based wound dressings: A mini-review.

In spite of remarkable progress in the field of wound curation, treatment of chronic wounds remains a challenge for medical services. The constant rise in the number of patients with chronic wounds and their related financial burden has caused concern for the healthcare system. The complicated and dynamic nature of chronic wounds has increased the curation time and difficulty of wound healing with conventional bandages. Efficient healing of these wounds requires new bandages with the ability of real-time monitoring, data analysis, and drug delivery, which protect the wound against infection and accelerate the treatment process. The recent development of smartphone applications and digital equipment in medicine provides an opportunity for significant improvement in wound care through the incorporation of "smart" technologies into clinical practice. The focus of this review is to provide an overview of the current status of smartphones and digital technology in the management of wounds.