Platelets and Platelet-Inspired Biomaterials Technologies in Wound Healing Applications

Abstract

Wound healing is a complex biological process involving distinct phases of hemostasis, immune response, and inflammatory events, regulated cellular proliferation, and matrix remodeling. While immune and inflammatory cellular phenotypes (e.g., neutrophils and monocyte/macrophages) are often the focus of wound healing studies, the initial hemostatic and sustained secretory role of platelets to modulate the various mechanistic phases of wound healing via clot promotion, clot stabilization and retraction, release of various growth factors and cytokines from active platelet granules, and release of matrix remodeling enzymes is becoming exceedingly appreciated in preclinical and clinical settings. This has led to extensive studies using platelet-based products like platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) suspensions and gels as topical and injectable technologies to augment wound healing in both soft and hard tissues. In parallel, a robust volume of research is currently being directed at mimicking and leveraging the hemostatic and secretory mechanisms of platelets utilizing various lipidic and polymeric biomaterials systems. The current article is aimed at providing a review of platelet involvement in wound healing mechanisms and subsequently discussing the current state-of-the-art regarding various platelet-based as well as biomaterials-based approaches and technologies to promote wound healing.

Keywords: biomaterials; cytokines; drug delivery; growth factors; platelets; wound healing.