Peptide-Based Approaches for Pain Relief and Healing in Wounds

This review explores peptide-based approaches for pain relief and wound healing, emphasizing their potential as alternatives to conventional analgesics like NSAIDs and opioids, which can delay healing and have systemic effects. Peptides such as biphalin and DALDA offer localized pain relief with minimal side effects and support wound healing. The integration of peptides into advanced wound dressings allows for controlled release, enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Preclinical studies show peptides can accelerate healing and reduce inflammation, but standardized models for assessing efficacy are lacking. Challenges include peptide instability and degradation, with strategies like cyclization and encapsulation being explored. Despite promising animal model results, reliable clinical data in humans is needed, highlighting the need for further research and development.