Topical Antimicrobial Strategies in Wound Care

Topical antimicrobial strategies in wound care combine traditional antiseptics, targeted antibiotics and advanced delivery systems to prevent infection and support tissue regeneration. Despite the efficacy of broad-spectrum agents such as povidone-iodine, chlorhexidine and silver, concerns about cytotoxicity, biofilm persistence and antimicrobial resistance have driven innovation. Modern formulations incorporate polymers, nanoparticles and biocompatible hydrogels to achieve controlled release, reduce host-cell damage and sustain therapeutic concentrations at the wound bed. These multifunctional dressings often integrate haemostatic and anti-inflammatory properties, promoting granulation tissue formation, neovascularisation and re-epithelialisation. Precision dosing of topical antibiotics addresses common pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, while stimuli-responsive materials enable on-demand drug delivery in response to pH or enzymatic changes. Collectively, these advances highlight a holistic approach that synchronises microbial clearance with the biological phases of wound repair, offering scalable solutions for diverse clinical settings worldwide.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have elucidated how low-concentration povidone-iodine accelerates acute wound healing by modulating key growth factors and cellular responses. Topical application of 0.5 % povidone-iodine in animal models enhanced expression of transforming growth factor β and α-smooth muscle actin, driving robust granulation tissue formation, neovascularisation and re-epithelialisation. Concurrent reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 further mitigated oedema and pain. Inhibition of the transforming growth factor β pathway abolished these benefits, confirming its central role. These findings establish a mechanistic basis for the dual antimicrobial and regenerative actions of povidone-iodine formulations in skin wound management.

Topical Antimicrobial Strategies in Wound Care publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in topical antimicrobial strategies in wound care across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Biofilm: A structured community of microorganisms embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix, often resistant to antimicrobials.

Neovascularisation: Formation of new blood vessels within healing tissue to supply oxygen and nutrients.

Re-epithelialisation: Restoration of the epidermal layer by migration and proliferation of keratinocytes at the wound edge.

Granulation tissue: Newly formed connective tissue and microscopic blood vessels that form on the surface of a wound during healing.

Antimicrobial iodophors: Complexes of iodine with water-soluble polymers designed for sustained release of active iodine species.

References

1. Advances in antimicrobial polymeric iodophors. European Polymer Journal (2023).
2. Antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa on Human Skin Cell Lines: Determination of the Highest Non-Cytotoxic Concentrations with Antibiofilm Capacity for Wound Healing Strategies. Pharmaceutics (2024).
3. Antiseptic, Hemostatic, and Wound Activity of Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-Iodine Gel with Trimethyl Chitosan. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2024).
4. Transforming growth factor β plays an important role in enhancing wound healing by topical application of Povidone-iodine. Scientific Reports (2017).