Amino Acid-Based Therapies for Chronic Wounds: Navigating Delivery Challenges and Technological Innovations

Wound healing is a multifaceted biological process that requires a coordinated effort of several physiological systems, including nutritional support. Among the key nutrients influencing tissue repair, amino acids play a crucial role by serving as building blocks for proteins, promoting collagen synthesis, regulating oxidative stress, and modulating inflammation. This review explores the pharmaceutical technology approaches to amino acid delivery, focusing on the differences between oral and topical administration, particularly in the context of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Despite the growing recognition of amino acids' potential in chronic wound management, especially DFUs, significant gaps remain in effective delivery methods. Oral formulations, while widely used, suffer from limited local bioavailability due to first-pass metabolism, whereas topical delivery systems face challenges such as poor deep tissue penetration and amino acid instability. The review discusses the current technological innovations, including nanoparticle-based systems, hydrocolloid dressings, and responsive wound dressings, aimed at overcoming these challenges. Moreover, the article emphasizes the need for more clinical evidence comparing oral and topical amino acid applications in DFUs, as well as the integration of amino acids with other therapies, such as growth factors. The future of wound healing could be revolutionized by personalized medicine, advanced encapsulation techniques, and smart wound dressings, potentially offering targeted and sustained release of amino acids at the site of injury.