Chronic Wound Healing: Breakthrough Strategies Based on Inorganic Polyphosphate

Wound healing is a highly energy-dependent process. Physiologically, the required metabolic energy is supplied by the blood platelets in the form of inorganic polyphosphate, which serves as a source for the generation of the energy carrier adenosine triphosphate (ATP). However, due to metabolic diseases, circulatory disorders, or bacterial wound infections, this energy supply can be insufficient, leading to the development of chronic wounds that are difficult or impossible to treat with conventional methods. It has been shown that this energy deficiency can be remedied by the topical application of synthetic polyP and amorphous polyP nanoparticles that mimic the natural polymer. Initial studies on patients were successful, as summarized in this chapter. Amorphous calcium carbonate particles stabilized with polyP as a source of soluble calcium have proven to be another promising application form of the polymer alongside polyP and polyP nanoparticles.