Bioinspired Multifunctional Hydrogels for Deep Learning-Enabled Wound pH Visual Monitoring and Treatment

Smart wound dressings capable of real-time environmental monitoring and therapeutic intervention are crucial for managing difficult-to-heal wounds. Herein, we report a bioinspired, enzyme cascade-initiated multifunctional hydrogel (EVQ) that integrates pH-responsive visual monitoring, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and mechanical adaptability for intelligent wound healing. The hydrogel is formed via an in situ redox-initiated polymerization catalyzed by a glucose oxidase (GOx)–hemin cascade, enabling rapid gelation within ∼30 s under physiologically relevant glucose levels and yielding an injectable matrix that conforms to irregular wound geometries. Incorporation of quaternized chitosan (QCS) enhances both tensile performance and interfacial adhesion, increasing tensile strength by ∼60% compared to QCS-free gels, while maintaining an elongation at break comparable to commercial dressings (68–134%) and providing robust wet adhesion to porcine skin. The EVQ hydrogel also exhibits excellent moisture management, remaining hydrated for at least 24 h and swelling to ∼10-fold its dry weight. Antibacterial assays demonstrate >90% bacterial inhibition against Escherichia coli and S. aureus over pH 5.5–8.5, with L929 cell viability consistently above 80%, confirming good cytocompatibility. For real-time wound pH monitoring, phenol red is embedded in the hydrogel matrix, producing a distinct colorimetric transition and a pH-dependent absorbance response at 560 nm across pH 5–9 with