An Overview of Wound Healing Biology

This introductory chapter on growth factors and wound healing presents a brief summary of the biologic principles of wound healing and relates this information to the current status of growth factors in the modulation and control of tissue repair. I will add a few of my own philosophical observations as to the rather flamboyant, disjointed history of cytokines, wound healing, and industry during the past decade. Although I may be somewhat critical of the past, I will try to predict some of the exciting clinical advances with the use of cytokines we may expect in future decades.