Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity (Mar 2020)
Effects of Topical Insulin on Wound Healing: A Review of Animal and Human Evidences
Abstract
Jiao Wang, Jixiong Xu Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jixiong XuDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng St., Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13307086069Email [email protected]: Wound healing is a complex biological process that repairs damaged tissues and restores skin integrity. Insulin, a potent factor of wound healing, has been reported for nearly a century to induce rapid recovery of various wounds, as shown by numerous human and animal studies. Although many studies have addressed the healing effect of systemic insulin on burn wound, only few have investigated the efficacy of topical insulin. Thus, this study aimed to review evidence of the effects of topical insulin on wound healing, including on diabetic and non-diabetic wounds. The presented animal and clinical studies support that topical insulin improves wound healing through several mechanisms without causing side effects. Additionally, various wound dressings accelerate the wound healing with controlled and sustained delivery of bioactive insulin. Therefore, topical insulin has been appreciated in field of wound healing, and further studies are needed to improve our understanding of the role of insulin in the healing of various wounds.Keywords: wound healing, insulin therapy, review
