Understanding the implications of pharmaceutical excipients and additives in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

A diabetic foot ulcer (DFUs) is a consequence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and involves complex pathological processes. It is a major cause of deaths among diabetic patients as a result of amputations. Various treatment strategies have been developed for the treatment of DFUs; unfortunately no single treatment will fulfill the prerequisites necessary for treating DFUs due to its complexed, multifactorial pathophysiology and also the overall cost of these treatments are high. Excipients are the pharmaceutical agents which have diverse applications in the design of different dosage forms. Hence, an ideal dosage form, with active excipients in combination or as adjuvants, which meets these requirements would probably best suited for treating DFUs. This review discusses the etiopathogenesis of DFUs and also the possible use of excipients and additives on various pathological cases of DFUs in designing products intended for the treatment of DFUs