Effect of powdered shells treatment of the snail Megalobulimus lopesi on wounds of diabetic rats

Bridging Nature and Engineering: Protein-Derived Materials for Bio-Inspired Applications

The sophisticated, elegant protein-polymers designed by nature can serve as inspiration to redesign and biomanufacture protein-based materials using synthetic biology. Historically, petro-based polymeric materials have dominated industrial activities, consequently transforming our way of living. While this benefits humans, the fabrication and disposal of these materials causes environmental sustainability challenges. Fortunately, protein-based biopolymers can compete with and potentially surpass the performance of petro-based polymers because they can be biologically produced and degraded in an environmentally friendly fashion. This paper reviews four groups of protein-based polymers, including fibrous proteins (collagen, silk fibroin, fibrillin, and keratin), elastomeric proteins (elastin, resilin, and wheat glutenin), adhesive/matrix proteins (spongin and conchiolin), and cyanophycin. We discuss the connection between protein sequence, structure, function, and biomimetic applications. Protein engineering techniques, such as directed evolution and rational design, can be used to improve the functionality of natural protein-based materials. For example, the inclusion of specific protein domains, particularly those observed in structural proteins, such as silk and collagen, enables the creation of novel biomimetic materials with exceptional mechanical properties and adaptability. This review also discusses recent advancements in the production and application of new protein-based materials through the approach of synthetic biology combined biomimetics, providing insight for future research and development of cutting-edge bio-inspired products. Protein-based polymers that utilize nature's designs as a base, then modified by advancements at the intersection of biology and engineering, may provide mankind with more sustainable products.

Limited Treatment Options for Diabetic Wounds: Barriers to Clinical Translation Despite Therapeutic Success in Murine Models

Significance: Millions of people worldwide suffer from diabetes mellitus and its complications, including chronic diabetic wounds. To date, there are few widely successful clinical therapies specific to diabetic wounds beyond general wound care, despite the vast number of scientific discoveries in the pathogenesis of defective healing in diabetes. Recent Advances: In recent years, murine animal models of diabetes have enabled the investigation of many possible therapeutics for diabetic wound care. These include specific cell types, growth factors, cytokines, peptides, small molecules, plant extracts, microRNAs, extracellular vesicles, novel wound dressings, mechanical interventions, bioengineered materials, and more. Critical Issues: Despite many research discoveries, few have been translated from their success in murine models to clinical use in humans. This massive gap between bench discovery and bedside application begs the simple and critical question: what is still missing? The complexity and multiplicity of the diabetic wound makes it an immensely challenging therapeutic target, and this lopsided progress highlights the need for new methods to overcome the bench-to-bedside barrier. How can laboratory discoveries in animal models be effectively translated to novel clinical therapies for human patients? Future Directions: As research continues to decipher deficient healing in diabetes, new approaches and considerations are required to ensure that these discoveries can become translational, clinically usable therapies. Clinical progress requires the development of new, more accurate models of the human disease state, multifaceted investigations that address multiple critical components in wound repair, and more innovative research strategies that harness both the existing knowledge and the potential of new advances across disciplines.

Role of Topical Biological Therapies and Dressings in Healing Ischemic Wounds

Ischemic wounds are the most severe expression of critical limb ischemia (CLI), and they have been defined clinically as an end stage of peripheral arterial disease. Urgent revascularization is a fundamental part for limb salvage in patients with CLI. However, the risk of revascularization should be weighed against the likelihood of success given a patient’s life-threatening comorbidities. Once the condition of arterial insufficiency is revascularized, wound care is an important aspect to promote the wound healing process and infection control. MOIST concept for wound care is a modern systematic treatment for enhanced wound healing process. Currently, advanced biological therapies are emerging in ischemic wound therapies to restore the wound healing process and involve active biological agents to support the wound healing process. We studied and summarized the different types of available topical biological therapies and their mechanisms on the healing process including platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-rich plasma, and honey for local wound care of patient with CLI. Our review suggests that topical platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, platelet-rich plasma, and honey are available as well as considered in the ischemic wound healing process enhancement through the MOIST concept. In conclusion, biologic wound dressing or topical agent therapy may improve the wound healing process, increase limb salvage, is inexpensive, and provides potential safety with nontoxic low-risk therapy in patients with an ischemic wound. Thus, local wound care by biological dressing should be added in adjuvant treatment for ischemic wound patients. However, further randomized studies are needed to support efficacy and long-term outcomes of these biological dressing in patients with ischemic wound.