Wound Healing Strategies and Tissue Regeneration Techniques

Wound healing is a highly orchestrated process comprising haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodelling. Traditional strategies such as surgical debridement, skin grafting and topical growth factors remain mainstays, but advances in biomaterials and cell-based therapies are reshaping the field. Tissue regeneration techniques harness the capacity of scaffolds, hydrogels and engineered cell sheets to recreate the native extracellular matrix and stimulate re-epithelialisation, angiogenesis and matrix remodelling. Electrospun polymers and peptide-functionalised matrices mimic mechanical and biochemical cues of healthy skin, while composite patches integrate antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents to address infection and chronic inflammation. Immunomodulatory approaches, including the use of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and mesenchymal stem cells, seek to steer the inflammatory milieu towards a pro-regenerative state. Emerging modalities such as three-dimensional bioprinting and shape-memory foams promise personalised conformability to irregular wounds. Collectively, these strategies aim to accelerate closure, restore barrier function and reduce scarring in acute injuries, chronic ulcers and extensive burns.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Mixed sheets of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and fibroblasts have been evaluated for refractory skin ulcers in diabetic models. These co-cultured constructs secrete elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, enhancing neovascularisation and granulation without eliciting excessive inflammation. In comparison with standard growth factor therapy, the cell sheets promote restoration of normal tissue architecture and integrate transiently, allowing allogeneic application without long-term engraftment. This approach exemplifies the potential of combining immune and stromal cells to orchestrate a balanced healing response.

Wound Healing Strategies and Tissue Regeneration Techniques publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in wound healing strategies and tissue regeneration techniques across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Extracellular matrix (ECM): network of proteins and glycosaminoglycans providing structural and biochemical support to cells.

Re-epithelialisation: process by which keratinocytes migrate and proliferate to restore the epidermal barrier.

Hydrogel: water-retentive polymer network that mimics tissue hydration and allows cell infiltration.

Scaffold: three-dimensional structure engineered to guide cell attachment, differentiation and tissue assembly.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs): mixed population of lymphocytes and monocytes used to modulate inflammation and promote regeneration.

Angiogenesis: formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature, essential for nutrient delivery and waste removal in healing tissue.

References

1. Cellular therapeutics and immunotherapies in wound healing – on the pulse of time?. Military Medical Research (2024).
2. Stable, Easy‐to‐Handle, Fully Autologous Electrospun Polymer‐Peptide Skin Equivalent for Severe Burn Injuries. Advanced Functional Materials (2025).
3. Polymer Brush‐Based Asymmetric Porous Patch with Excellent Anti‐Bacterial and Anti‐Contamination Properties Enables Infectious Abdominal Wall Defect Repair. Advanced Science (2025).
4. Treatment of refractory cutaneous ulcers with mixed sheets consisting of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and fibroblasts. Scientific Reports (2016).
5. Shape Memory Polymer Foams With Phenolic Acid-Based Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties for Traumatic Wound Healing. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (2022).