HERBAL BANDAGE WITH SMART PH RESPONSIVE FOR WOUND MONITORING AND HEALING

ABSTRACT
Wound infections pose serious healthcare challenges, often delaying healing and causing
complications in vulnerable patients. Conventional dressings act mainly as barriers but cannot
detect infections early. This study introduces a smart herbal wound dressing that promotes healing
while enabling infection detection through visible color changes. Three medicinal plants—
Curcuma longa, Azadirachta indica, and Aloe barbadensis Miller—were chosen for their
antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. Their bioactive compounds
(curcumin, azadirachtin, and aloin) were evaluated via molecular docking against COX-2 (5IKR),
MMP9 (1L6J), and TNF-α (2AZ5), showing strong binding affinities and therapeutic potential. To
detect infection, red cabbage extract was added as a natural pH-responsive indicator that changes
color with bacterial growth. A hydrogel was formulated using aloe vera gel with turmeric and
neem extracts, offering antimicrobial action and tissue regeneration. The final product is a multi
layer smart bandage comprising sterile gauze, an herbal hydrogel layer, and a pH-sensitive
indicator layer. This innovative dressing combines healing and early infection detection, ensuring
biocompatibility, eco-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness, making it ideal for rural healthcare and
home-based wound monitoring.
KEY WORDS : Curcuma longa, Azadirachta indica, Aloe barbadensis miller, Smart bandage,
Wound healing;