Proteomics in chronic wound research: potentials in healing and health

Chronic wounds, such as venous and diabetic leg ulcers, represent a significant health and financial burden to individuals and healthcare systems. In worst-case scenarios this condition may require the amputation of an affected limb, with significant impact on patient quality of life and health. Presently, there are no clinical biochemical analyses used in the diagnosis and management of this condition; moreover few biochemical therapies are accessible to patients. This presents a significant challenge in the efficient and efficacious treatment of chronic wounds by medical practitioners. A number of protein-centric investigations have analyzed the wound environment and implicated a suite of molecular species predicted to be involved in the initiation or perpetuation of the condition. However, comprehensive proteomic investigation is yet to be engaged in the analysis of chronic wounds for the identification of molecular diagnostic/prognostic markers of healing or therapeutic targets. This review examines clinical chronic wound research and recommends a path toward proteomic investigation for the discovery of medically significant targets. Additionally, the Supporting Information documents associated with this review provide the first comprehensive summary of protein-centric, small molecule and elemental analyses in clinical chronic wound research.