The Role of Probiotics in Healing Burns and Skin Wounds: An Integrative Review in Regenerative Medicine
Summary: In an open-access review published in Life (2025, Vol. 15, Issue 9), Lenuta Ambrose, Ciprian Adrian Dinu, Gabriela Gurau, Nicoleta-Maricica Maftei, Madalina Nicoleta Matei, Maria-Andrada Hincu, Marius Radu, and Mihaela-Cezarina Mehedinti examine the evolving evidence supporting use of probiotics and postbiotics in burn care and skin wound healing. The review connects mechanistic insights—anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, regenerative—with translational and pilot clinical outcomes, emphasizing safety, strain selection, and formulation options (topical, systemic) in different wound contexts.
Key Highlights:
- Probiotics are being investigated not only for gut health but also topically in gels, biofilms, and impregnated dressings, showing promise in reducing bacterial colonization, accelerating re-epithelialization, and promoting angiogenesis.
- Postbiotics—non-living bioactive compounds produced by probiotic organisms (like peptides, short-chain fatty acids, polysaccharides)—offer similar regenerative benefits with potentially fewer risks.
- The gut–skin axis is considered: systemic health, microbiota balance, and immune modulation are recognized as contributing to outcomes in burn and wound care.
- Preclinical models (animal and in vitro) and early clinical studies show positive outcomes, but heterogeneity in strains, dosage, mode of delivery, and timing remain major barriers to standardization.
- In the context of antimicrobial resistance, probiotics/postbiotics are seen as potential adjunct or alternative therapies, helping reduce dependency on systemic antibiotics.
Keywords:
probiotics,
postbiotics,
burn healing,
skin wounds,
regenerative medicine,
immunomodulation,
Lenuta Ambrose,
Ciprian Adrian Dinu,
Gabriela Gurau,
Nicoleta-Maricica Maftei,
Madalina Nicoleta Matei,
Maria-Andrada Hincu,
Marius Radu,
Mihaela-Cezarina Mehedinti