Recent Advances in the Controlled Release of Growth Factors and Cytokines for Improving Cutaneous Wound Healing

Abstract

Bioengineered materials are widely utilized due to their biocompatibility and degradability, as well as their moisturizing and antibacterial properties. One field of their application in medicine is to treat wounds by promoting tissue regeneration and improving wound healing. In addition to creating a physical and chemical barrier against primary infection, the mechanical stability of the porous structure of biomaterials provides an extracellular matrix (ECM)-like niche for cells. Growth factors (GFs) and cytokines, which are secreted by the cells, are essential parts of the complex process of tissue regeneration and wound healing. There are several clinically approved GFs for topical administration and direct injections. However, the limited time of bioactivity at the wound site often requires repeated drug administration that increases cost and may cause adverse side effects. The tissue regeneration promoting factors incorporated into the materials have significantly enhanced wound healing in comparison to bolus drug treatment. Biomaterials protect the cargos from protease degradation and provide sustainable drug delivery for an extended period of time. This prolonged drug bioactivity lowered the dosage, eliminated the need for repeated administration, and decreased the potential of undesirable side effects. In the following mini-review, recent advances in the field of single and combinatorial delivery of GFs and cytokines for treating cutaneous wound healing will be discussed.

Immunology of Acute and Chronic Wound Healing

“…In addition, the FGF family consists of several growth factors implicated in wound healing, such as FGF-2, keratinocyte growth factor-2 (KGF-2), FGF-7 and others. For instance, FGF-2 (also referred to as bFGF) delivered in hydrogel, cryogel, coacervate and biofilm formulations can accelerate wound healing by increasing fibroblast proliferation, organizing collagen deposition, promoting angiogenesis and keratinocytes migration and reducing pro-inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-6 [ 21 ]. Therefore, recombinant forms of bovine and human bFGF, such as Fiblast Spray ® , were used for treatment of burn, pressure and DFU.…”

“…To date, multiple immunomodulatory strategies have been proposed for skin wound repair [6]. They include cell-based strategies, molecular therapies and biomaterial-based approaches [17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. In this paper, we review the role of an innate and adaptive immune system in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic wounds and discuss the latest advances in the application of immunomodulatory therapies to improve wound healing.…”

Materials and Cytokines in the Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

“…[ 57 ] In our review we discuss signaling molecules most relevant to angiogenesis and macrophage chemotaxis, key factors in diabetic wound healing; a full discussion of the wide array of all chemokines, cytokines and growth factors, and the complex interplay of signaling between them is outside the scope of this review, and the reader is directed to other relevant publications. [ 56,58–65 ]…”

Superior Technique for the Production of Agarose Dressing Containing Sericin and Its Wound Healing Property

“…It would make the wound dressing more valuable. Sericin, collagen, and epidermal growth factor are natural activating wound healing agents [ 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Sericin is a natural protein from the silk cocoon, which is a common waste product in the fabrication industry [ 46 ].…”