Authors : Abhishek Kumar; Dr. Jitesh Kumar; Arun Singha

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 7 - July

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/r48d2awe

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/2j9z8vu8

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jul431

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Chronic wounds such as DFUs present an important problem in modern medicine because of chronic inflammation, poor angiogenesis, oxidative stress, and abnormal extracellular matrix remodelling, which interfere with wound healing. Stem cells, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have attracted considerable attention due to their capability to regulate inflammation, stimulate angiogenesis, increase collagen production, support re-epithelialization, and manage immune response mainly through paracrine action. This systematic review was undertaken to assess the biological mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and translational value of MSCs and MSC-derived products (extracellular vesicles, exosomes, secretome, conditioned medium) in the process of normal and diabetic wound healing. The search strategy and inclusion criteria for the review were designed in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and were performed on PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. Altogether, eleven eligible preclinical and clinical studies were included in a qualitative analysis. Because of the high level of heterogeneity in design, cell source, mode of administration, and outcomes, the meta-analysis could not be performed. All included studies revealed positive effects of MSC-based treatment on wound closure, angiogenesis, granulation tissue formation, collagen production, oxidative stress decrease, and pro-inflammatory macrophage polarisation modulation. MSC-derived cell-free therapy, especially exosomes and secretome, replicated the reparative effects of their parent cells and provided additional benefits like decreased immunogenicity, enhanced biosafety and ease of manufacturing. In addition, cell retention and sustained effect of therapeutic delivery were achieved through biomaterial-based systems such as hydrogels, nanofibers, injectable systems, and smart dressings. Even though the initial results from the clinical trials suggest promising safety and efficacy in chronic wound healing, there are several hurdles to be overcome, such as standardisation, manufacturing, regulatory approval, and clinical validation. Nevertheless, MSC and cell-free therapies seem to hold great potential in wound repair, especially in diabetic foot ulcers, and require further testing in RCTs before clinical use

Keywords : Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Wound Healing, Diabetic Foot Ulcer, Exosomes, Extracellular Vesicles, Regenerative Medicine, Cell-Free Therapy.

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