Growth Factors in Wound Healing The Present and the Future?

Clinical studies confirm the pivotal role of growth factors in wound healing and their diminished levels in the chronic wound. Results with traditional bolus dosing of a single growth factor have yielded insignificant results, which may be the result of the inherent short half-life of growth factors, hostile microenvironment rich in protease activity, and poor delivery mechanisms. Technologies capable of delivering multiple growth factors in a spatially oriented approach include polymer systems, scaffolds, and hydrogels. With improved delivery systems, treating chronic wounds with growth factors potentially accelerates healing in a manner not previously realized with traditional delivery approaches.