The Role of Lactoferrin in Wound Healing: A Systematic Review

Lactoferrin (LF) is a natural glycoprotein. Its diverse biological roles include immune modulation and osteogenesis. Evidence shows that LF promotes collagen synthesis and fibroblast activity, thereby accelerating wound healing. This study investigates the role LF plays in wound healing and potential future applications. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Articles were sourced from MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register. Studies published before September 2025 were eligible. The primary outcome of interest was wound healing rate, while secondary outcomes included collagen synthesis and fibroblast migration associated with LF exposure. An NIH quality assessment was performed to score the quality of the papers. Comparative analyses and descriptive statistics were performed to synthesise the findings. Of the 261 screened articles, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Twelve studies reported that LF accelerated wound healing compared to controls, 12 demonstrated increased collagen synthesis, and 9 showed enhanced fibroblast migration. All included studies were preclinical, comprising human in vitro or animal models. Most originated from Japan (n = 6), followed by China (n = 3) and Russia (n = 2), and were published within the last 20 years. This review highlights consistent preclinical evidence linking LF to enhanced wound healing. These findings provide a strong rationale for future clinical trials investigating LF as a therapeutic agent for wound healing. To date, no human studies have directly evaluated LF in wound repair, further emphasising the need for well-designed clinical trials.