Topical bilirubin-deferoxamine hastens excisional wound healing by modulating inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and collagen deposition in diabetic rats

•Simultaneous bilirubin and DFO treatment caused rapid and well-organized healing of cutaneous wounds in diabetic rats.•It showed the up-regulation of anti-inflammatory and angiogenic mediators, and downregulation of inflammatory mediators.•Marked collagen deposition along with reduction of oxidative stress, and better epithelialization was also observed.