Unraveling the Mechanisms of Diabetic Wounds: Insights into Pathogenesis and Advanced Treatment Strategies.

Abstract

Diabetic wounds are a class of chronic wounds that exhibit significant healing abnormalities due to dysregulated cytokines, growth factors, and unique cellular expressions, currently affecting an estimated 9.1-26.1 million people per year globally. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), angiogenic factors, and inflammatory mediators remain the key determinants for managing diabetic wounds. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most prominent types of growth factors induced during angiogenesis in general and cell proliferation pathways. Chronic hyperglycemia, neuropathy, and inflammation associated with diabetes disorders affect cellular responses, blood circulation, and immunological systems impair normal wound healing. This reduced effectiveness of current management strategies is reflected in the high number of delayed wounds among diabetic patients due to escalated oxidative stress and impaired signaling pathways, which prevent healing, calling for new therapies. MMPs are essential for tissue remodeling, but excess levels of MMPs predispose tissues to matrix degradation and interruption in cell signaling leading thereby prolonging inflammation seen in diabetic wounds. Efficient wound healing requires a balanced relationship regarding matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). New regenerative solutions, such as stem cells, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), gene therapies, and MMP inhibitors that can re-establish angiogenesis; decrease inflammation; and stimulate growth factor signaling, suggest promising strategies for improved diabetic wound healing. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy allows tissue regeneration and reduces the area of ulceration, bringing other benefits. In the future, therapeutics should focus on multifunctional and responsive strategies that include anti-inflammatory agents, cytokine modulators, and stem cell treatments that exhibit superior efficacy in comparison to conventional therapies when assessed clinically. Novel advanced combination strategies represent a realistic route to targeted therapies that meet clinical needs and have the potential capability for utilizing mechanistic insights, both creative in their implementation of recently developed techniques as well as applied on a broader scale through the evidence-based management across diabetic wounds offering better outcomes and quality of life amongst increasing diabetic commonalities.