a,bNrf2 and NF-κB transcription factors act in wound healing via their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects or through the immune response. Studying this process is a matter of some importance given the high cost of wound treatment. A major contribution in this regard is being made by models that enable investigation of the involvement of multiple factors in wound healing and testing new curative substances. This literature review was carried out via searches in the PubMed and Web of Science databases up to 2016. It covers skin wound healing, available models for its study (part I), the role of Nrf2 and NF-κB, substances that influence them and whether they can be used as markers (part II). Was found that in vitro assays are used for their availability but a holistic view must be established in vivo. In silico approaches are facilitating assessment of a vast amount of research data. Nfr2 and NF-κB play a crucial and reciprocal role in wound healing. Nrf2 controls repair-associated inflammation and protects against excessive accumulation of ROS while Nf-κB activates the innate immune reaction, proliferation and migration of cells, modulates expression of matrix metalloproteinases, secretion and stability of cytokines and growth factors for wound healing.

Biomedical application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been rapidly increasing. Owing to their strong antimicrobial activity, AgNPs are used in dermatology in the treatment of wounds and burns. However, recent evidence for their cytotoxicity gives rise to safety concerns. This study was undertaken as a part of an ongoing programme in our laboratory to develop a topical agent for wound healing. Here, we investigated the potential toxicity of AgNPs using normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) and normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) with the aim of comparing the effects of AgNPs and ionic silver (Ag-I). Besides the effect of AgNPs and Ag-I on cell viability, the inflammatory response and DNA damage in AgNPs and Ag-I–treated cells were examined. The results showed that Ag-I were significantly more toxic than AgNPs both on NHDF and NHEK. Non-cytotoxic concentrations of AgNPs and Ag-I did not induce DNA strand breaks and did not affect inflammatory markers, except for a transient increase in interleukin 6 levels in Ag-I–treated NHDF. The results showed that AgNPs are more suitable for the intended application as a topical agent for wound healing up to the concentration 25 µg/mL.

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