Topical Applications for Wound Healing Enhancement

Wound healing is a complex process encompassing haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodelling. Topical applications aim to modulate these phases directly at the injury site to accelerate closure, reduce infection and minimise scarring. Strategies range from conventional creams to advanced biomaterial constructs that deliver actives in a controlled manner. Recent advances employ polymeric matrices, nanostructured carriers and bioactive molecules to enhance cell migration, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix deposition. Multifunctional dressings now combine antimicrobial agents, growth factors and anti-inflammatory compounds within degradable scaffolds. These innovations are tailored to address chronic wounds, diabetic ulcers and burn injuries, where impaired healing poses significant clinical and economic burdens. Integration of natural and synthetic actives with responsive delivery platforms has broadened the therapeutic repertoire, offering on-demand release triggered by pH or enzymatic cues. Moreover, tissue-mimetic architectures created through electrospinning and three-dimensional printing have enabled closer replication of native skin microenvironments. Collectively, these topical systems promise to improve patient outcomes by providing sustained bioactivity, minimising systemic side effects and facilitating outpatient management of complex wounds.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A multifunctional nanofibrous patch comprising three distinct drug-loaded layers within a polylactic acid matrix was developed to address diabetic wound challenges. Each layer released phenytoin, simvastatin or sildenafil citrate in a phase-specific manner over three weeks, preserving matrix integrity while promoting cell adhesion and biodegradation. In vivo evaluation in diabetic rat models demonstrated complete wound closure and organised tissue regeneration without scarring, highlighting the patch’s capacity to synchronise pharmacotherapy with healing dynamics. Another study engineered an electrospun scaffold modified with an insulin-like growth factor analogue and an antimicrobial peptide anchored via dihydroxyphenylalanine tags. The composite scaffold replicated the extracellular matrix’s porous architecture, enhanced fibroblast proliferation and inhibited microbial colonisation. When applied to rat skin wounds, it significantly improved re-epithelialisation and vascularisation, underscoring the potential of dual bio-functional dressings to integrate regenerative and anti-infective modalities.

Topical Applications for Wound Healing Enhancement publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in topical applications for wound healing enhancement across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Polylactic acid (PLA): a biodegradable polyester commonly used to fabricate nanofibrous wound dressings.

Electrospinning: a fabrication technique producing ultra-fine fibres that mimic the extracellular matrix framework.

Nanoemulsion: a kinetically stabilised dispersion of oil and water phases at nanometre scale, enhancing topical delivery.

Nanoparticle: a submicron carrier for controlled release of bioactive molecules, improving tissue penetration.

Growth factor: a protein that regulates cellular proliferation, differentiation and angiogenesis during tissue repair.

References

1. Design, development, in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of polylactic acid-based multifunctional nanofibrous patches for efficient healing of diabetic wounds. Scientific Reports (2023).
2. Dual bio-active factors with adhesion function modified electrospun fibrous scaffold for skin wound and infections therapeutics. Scientific Reports (2021).
3. Potential of nanoemulsions for accelerated wound healing: innovative strategies. International Journal of Surgery (2023).
4. Phenytoin-loaded bioactive nanoparticles for the treatment of diabetic pressure ulcers: formulation and in vitro/in vivo evaluation. Drug Delivery and Translational Research (2022).
5. Evaluating the Efficacy of Topical Phenytoin in the Healing of Neuropathic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Comparative Study. Cureus (2024).