Smart-Responsive Antibacterial Fibers: Mechanisms, Fabrication, and Biomedical Applications

The escalating prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections presents a grave global health challenge, highlighting the limitations of traditional antibacterial materials that rely on passive release mechanisms. This paper comprehensively reviews the emerging frontier of stimuli-responsive smart antibacterial fibers (SAFs), which embody a paradigm shift towards on-demand and targeted proactive antimicrobial functionality. Based on response mechanisms, the specific stimuli sensed by SAFs are classified as endogenous infection microenvironments (i.e., pH, dysregulated enzyme activity, and redox potential, etc.) and exogenous physical activation (i.e., light, ultrasound, mechanical force, and magnetic, etc.). Furthermore, this review systematically expounds on the fundamental design principles of SAFs (how to achieve "smartness"), antibacterial mechanisms (how to achieve "antibacterial activity"), and innovative applications in various fields. Subsequently, current challenges are thoroughly discussed, and promising future research directions are outlined. Crucially, artificial intelligence is highlighted as a pivotal enabler for integrating multifunctionality, biomimetic design paradigms, and embedded sensing capabilities, thereby facilitating seamless interoperability with digital health platforms. This review aims to establish a foundational framework inspiring innovation in developing next-generation antibacterial fibers with superior therapeutic precision and functional sophistication.