Molecular pathology and therapeutics of the diabetic foot ulcer; comprehensive reviews

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic condition linked to high blood sugar levels. Diabetes causes complications like neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy. Diabetes foot ulcer (DFU) is a significant and serious wound healing issue resulting from uncontrolled DM. The main causes of the development of the DFU are oxidative stress brought on by the NO moiety, release of pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL-1), cellular dysfunction, and pathogenic microorganisms including staphylococcus and streptococcus species. The two main types of wounds that are prevalent in DFU patients are neuropathic and neuroischemic. If this wound is not properly treated or cared for, a lower limb may have to be amputated. There are several therapy options for DFU, including antibiotics, debridement, dressings, nano formulations, and growth factor preparations like PDGF-BB, to help the wound heal and prevent amputation. Other novel approaches involved the use of nerve taps, microneedle patches, nanotechnology-based formulations and stem cell applications to promote healing. There are possibilities of drug repurposing for the DFU treatment based on targeting specific enzymes. This article summarises the current pathophysiological aspects of DFU and its probable future targets.

Keywords:

• Diabetes
• foot ulcer
• neuroischemic
• cytokines
• drug repurposing
• staphylococcus
• streptococcus species
• matrix metalloproteinases

Acknowledgement

We thank Ramanbhai Patel College of Pharmacy, Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT), Changa for providing the necessary resources to accomplish this review article.

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Not applicable.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the finding of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.

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