Advances in Wound Healing Strategies for Diabetic Foot Ulcers: From Conventional to Regenerative Therapies

Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) is a serious and chronic complication of uncontrolled diabetes, significantly increasing the risk of amputation and mortality in diabetic patients. Conventional wound healing techniques often fail to manage chronic wounds in DFU due to several limitations, which eventually raises the need for advanced, innovative, and efficient treatment strategies for the better management of DFU. Many novel interventions, such as growth factor therapy, stem cell therapy, gene therapy, nanotechnology, bioengineered skin substitutes, 3D-bioprinting, and regenerative medicine, have shown promising roles in wound healing and tissue regeneration, suggesting their potential implications in the treatment and control of DFU. An integrated and multidisciplinary approach was proven to be a promising option for rapid and effective DFU management, eventually reducing the financial burden on the patients and healthcare system. Besides, AI-- driven medical technologies were found to support the healthcare system for the prevention, prediction, diagnosis, and personalized treatment of DFU. The present review article provides a brief overview of DFU and its pathophysiology. It highlights traditional DFU treatment strategies, their limitations, and focuses on emerging innovative strategies, emphasizing their potential for addressing DFU. Moreover, it sheds light on challenges and future research areas of these emerging interventions.