Anti-scarring drug discovery: potential targets and therapeutic opportunities

Scar formation is a ubiquitous pathological response during the skin wound healing process. While physical therapy can effectively mitigate scar development, it is often accompanied by issues such as poor patient compliance and a range of side effects. Consequently, there is an urgent clinical need...

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Main Authors: Meiling Feng, Xiaotian Niu, Shan Wang, Liuxin Lu, Xilong Feng, Xiaoying Jiang, Wenchao Chen, Renren Bai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772417425000391
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author Meiling Feng
Xiaotian Niu
Shan Wang
Liuxin Lu
Xilong Feng
Xiaoying Jiang
Wenchao Chen
Renren Bai
author_facet Meiling Feng
Xiaotian Niu
Shan Wang
Liuxin Lu
Xilong Feng
Xiaoying Jiang
Wenchao Chen
Renren Bai
author_sort Meiling Feng
collection DOAJ
description Scar formation is a ubiquitous pathological response during the skin wound healing process. While physical therapy can effectively mitigate scar development, it is often accompanied by issues such as poor patient compliance and a range of side effects. Consequently, there is an urgent clinical need for the discovery of effective anti-scarring drugs. However, this need has not been fully addressed to date. This review delves systematically and comprehensively into the characteristics of scars, the underlying mechanisms of their formation, and potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, it reviews drug repurposing efforts, natural products and small molecule compounds in the drug discovery stage with anti-scarring effects. The information presented herein will offer valuable insights and enlightenment for exploring potential targets and pathways, as well as viable lead compounds for the discovery and development of novel anti-scarring drugs.
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publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Elsevier
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series European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Reports
spelling doaj-art-d10f3f2da76a4dde8036d6abbecb7b382025-08-20T03:24:04ZengElsevierEuropean Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Reports2772-41742025-12-011510028310.1016/j.ejmcr.2025.100283Anti-scarring drug discovery: potential targets and therapeutic opportunitiesMeiling Feng0Xiaotian Niu1Shan Wang2Liuxin Lu3Xilong Feng4Xiaoying Jiang5Wenchao Chen6Renren Bai7School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Corresponding author. School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, PR China.School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Corresponding author. School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, PR China.Scar formation is a ubiquitous pathological response during the skin wound healing process. While physical therapy can effectively mitigate scar development, it is often accompanied by issues such as poor patient compliance and a range of side effects. Consequently, there is an urgent clinical need for the discovery of effective anti-scarring drugs. However, this need has not been fully addressed to date. This review delves systematically and comprehensively into the characteristics of scars, the underlying mechanisms of their formation, and potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, it reviews drug repurposing efforts, natural products and small molecule compounds in the drug discovery stage with anti-scarring effects. The information presented herein will offer valuable insights and enlightenment for exploring potential targets and pathways, as well as viable lead compounds for the discovery and development of novel anti-scarring drugs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772417425000391ScarsScar formation mechanismsAnti-scarring targetsDrug discovery
spellingShingle Meiling Feng
Xiaotian Niu
Shan Wang
Liuxin Lu
Xilong Feng
Xiaoying Jiang
Wenchao Chen
Renren Bai
Anti-scarring drug discovery: potential targets and therapeutic opportunities
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Reports
Scars
Scar formation mechanisms
Anti-scarring targets
Drug discovery
title Anti-scarring drug discovery: potential targets and therapeutic opportunities
title_full Anti-scarring drug discovery: potential targets and therapeutic opportunities
title_fullStr Anti-scarring drug discovery: potential targets and therapeutic opportunities
title_full_unstemmed Anti-scarring drug discovery: potential targets and therapeutic opportunities
title_short Anti-scarring drug discovery: potential targets and therapeutic opportunities
title_sort anti scarring drug discovery potential targets and therapeutic opportunities
topic Scars
Scar formation mechanisms
Anti-scarring targets
Drug discovery
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772417425000391
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AT liuxinlu antiscarringdrugdiscoverypotentialtargetsandtherapeuticopportunities
AT xilongfeng antiscarringdrugdiscoverypotentialtargetsandtherapeuticopportunities
AT xiaoyingjiang antiscarringdrugdiscoverypotentialtargetsandtherapeuticopportunities
AT wenchaochen antiscarringdrugdiscoverypotentialtargetsandtherapeuticopportunities
AT renrenbai antiscarringdrugdiscoverypotentialtargetsandtherapeuticopportunities