Nanotechnology-Driven Therapeutic Interventions in Wound Healing: Potential Uses and Applications

Abstract

The chronic nature and associated complications of nonhealing wounds have led to the emergence of nanotechnology-based therapies that aim at facilitating the healing process and ultimately repairing the injured tissue. A number of engineered nanotechnologies have been proposed demonstrating unique properties and multiple functions that address specific problems associated with wound repair mechanisms. In this outlook, we highlight the most recently developed nanotechnology-based therapeutic agents and assess the viability and efficacy of each treatment, with emphasis on chronic cutaneous wounds. Herein we explore the unmet needs and future directions of current technologies, while discussing promising strategies that can advance the wound-healing field.

Preclinical evaluation of a novel silver gelling fiber dressing on Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a porcine wound infection model

“…In a recent study by Malone et al, at least 78 % of chronic wounds were found to contain biofilm . Managing the bacterial load in wounds is an important factor to facilitate tissue repair …”

“…There are a number of wound dressings that are available as primary or secondary therapies for both acute and chronic wounds. Besides their role in providing a moist environment for optimal wound healing, they are able to absorb excess wound fluid, assist in autolytic wound debridement, provide a barrier to wound pathogens, and reduce the bacterial load …”

“…7 Managing the bacterial load in wounds is an important factor to facilitate tissue repair. [8][9][10] For over 60 years various antimicrobials have been added into topical treatments, that is, ointments, creams, and dressings, to influence the wound microenvironment. There are a number of wound dressings that are available as primary or secondary therapies for both acute and chronic wounds.…”

“…Besides their role in providing a moist environment for optimal wound healing, they are able to absorb excess wound fluid, assist in autolytic wound debridement, provide a barrier to wound pathogens, and reduce the bacterial load. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Silver is one of the most widely used antimicrobial agents incorporated into wound products. Silver compounds have proven to provide antimicrobial efficiency against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a biofilm and planktonic forms.…”

Descriptive vs mechanistic scientific approach to study wound healing and its inhibition: Is there a value of translational research involving human subjects?

“…In vitro studies have shown that primary cells isolated from chronic wounds maintain tissue characteristics and show altered proliferative and migratory capacity accompanied with an inability to respond to wound‐healing stimuli such as growth factors and cytokines . While the actions of multiple cell types are tightly regulated by growth factors, cytokines and signalling molecules during the acute wound‐healing process, this regulation, and interplay between different signalling factors, is dysregulated in chronic wounds . Furthermore, chronic wounds exhibit high levels of metalloproteinases (MMP) and a perturbed ratio between MMP and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), which contribute to a hostile wound environment, lack of growth factor and cytokine signalling and subsequently delayed healing (Table ) .…”