The Biological Mechanisms Behind Injury and Inflammation: How They Can Affect Treatment Strategy, Product Performance, and Healing.

The processes behind tissue response to injury and innate immunity are integral parts of the acute wound response and the initiation of repair. In addition, inflammation is a key factor influencing both positive and negative aspects of healing in chronic wounds. Biological data on the signaling mechanisms behind these basic processes has increased dramatically over the last 10 years, yet the products and practice of wound healing have not benefited to the fullest extent from this new knowledge. An in-depth analysis of the biological mechanisms underpinning the processes that impact healing was undertaken to discover ways this information might be used to improve the treatment of chronic wounds. A synopsis of findings is presented regarding the biological mechanisms at work in injury and inflammation. It examines the early stages of wound healing from a mechanistic, biological perspective to gain insight into how this information might translate to the better use and development of wound healing products. These biological processes can impact the effectiveness of treatment from wound bed preparation to potentially regenerative products like growth factors and bioengineered skin constructs. The authors conclude that approaching wound healing from the perspective of biological mechanism can improve how effectively wounds are treated today. As importantly, viewing the development of wound care and wound healing products from the perspective of biological mechanism can lead to new ways of treating wounds that achieve greater clinical significance.