Wound healing: Future directions

Over the years, numerous attempts have been made to accelerate the wound healing response, with varying degrees of success. This review covers the different phases of repair and attempts to highlight potential therapies, including modulation of re-epithelialization, granulation tissue formation and angiogenesis. Of the plethora of factors involved in these processes, three stand out as future candidates for development. Keratinocyte growth factor is undoubtedly a target for re-epithelialization, transforming growth factor-beta for matrix deposition and vascular endothelial growth factor is a prime target for angiogenesis. Particular emphasis is placed on angiogenesis as this offers perhaps the most intriguing line of therapy.