An increasing number of innovative therapies have emerged in the field of wound healing. Nanostructured systems have been used to improve wound healing at different stages. The drug itself may be formulated at a nanoscale such that it can function as its own "carrier" or nanomaterials may be used as drug delivery vehicles. The present work covers the latest advancements on innovative nano-based organic and inorganic materials. These novel drug delivery systems possess high stability, large surface area and tunable compositions and have demonstrated their wound-healing properties using in vitro and in vivo models. Key areas in the development of new systems for wound care are the assessment of biological compatibility, the evaluation of anti-microbial activity and the in vivo efficacy assessment using full-thickness skin models. Due to the multifactorial nature of chronic wound occurrence robust models should support the investigation of new materials in order to elucidate mechanisms involved in the sequence of physiologic processes that take place at wound healing. Although several nanoparticles have been successfully tested both in vitro and in vivo, researchers are still investigating the approaches to implementing large scale production of nanotechnological platforms to wound healing treatments.

Sambucus nigra L. (S. nigra) is a shrub widespread in Europe and western Asia, traditionally used in medicine, that has become popular in recent years as a potential source of a wide range of interesting bioactive compounds. The aim of the present work was to develop a topical S. nigra extract formulation based on ethosomes and thus to support its health claims with scientific evidence. S. nigra extract was prepared by an ultrasound-assisted method and then included in ethosomes. The ethosomes were analyzed in terms of their size, stability over time, morphology, entrapment capacity (EC), extract release profile, stability over time and several biological activities. The prepared ethosomes were indicated to be well defined, presenting sizes around 600 nm. The extract entrapment capacity in ethosomes was 73.9 ± 24.8%, with an interesting slow extract release profile over 24 h. The extract-loaded ethosomes presented collagenase inhibition activity and a very good skin compatibility after human application. This study demonstrates the potential use of S. nigra extract incorporated in ethosomes as a potential cosmeceutical ingredient and on further studies should be performed to better understand the impact of S. nigra compounds on skin care over the time.