Mechanobiology of Scar Formation and Wound Healing

Wound healing proceeds through a tightly orchestrated sequence of haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodelling, during which mechanical forces critically shape cellular behaviour and tissue architecture. In the early phases, clot formation and provisional matrix stiffness influence platelet activation and inflammatory cell recruitment. As fibroblasts invade the wound bed, mechanical tension directs their differentiation into contractile myofibroblasts, which deposit and organise collagen fibres to restore tensile integrity. Excessive or dysregulated loading can prolong inflammation and drive pathological scarring, as seen in hypertrophic scars and keloids, where persistent mechanotransduction loops sustain fibroproliferation and extracellular matrix accumulation. Conversely, controlled application of mechanical stimuli can promote regenerative healing, minimise scar thickness and improve tissue function. Advances in biomaterials and device design now allow precise modulation of wound mechanics, enabling patient-specific interventions that integrate mechanobiological principles with immunological and biochemical cues. Understanding the interplay between force, cell signalling and matrix remodelling offers global opportunities to reduce fibrosis, restore skin homeostasis and develop scarless therapies.

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Mechanobiology of Scar Formation and Wound Healing publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in mechanobiology of scar formation and wound healing across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Mechanobiology: The study of how physical forces and changes in mechanical properties of cells and tissues influence biological processes.

Mechanotransduction: The conversion of mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals within cells, often via the cytoskeleton and adhesion complexes.

Extracellular Matrix (ECM): A complex network of proteins and polysaccharides surrounding cells, providing structural support and biochemical signals.

Fibroblast: A connective-tissue cell that produces collagen and other ECM components during wound healing.

Myofibroblast: A specialised fibroblast with contractile features that generates tensile forces to close wounds and remodel tissue.

References

1. Mechanoregulation of Wound Healing and Skin Homeostasis. BioMed Research International (2016).
2. Mechanical and Immunological Regulation in Wound Healing and Skin Reconstruction. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021).
3. Role of Inflammasomes in Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars—Lessons Learned from Chronic Diabetic Wounds and Skin Fibrosis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2022).