Serrapeptase for Wound Healing

Research suggests that serrapeptase (serratiopeptidase) holds theoretical promise for wound healing applications, primarily through its established ability to break down fibrin, reduce inflammatory fluid viscosity, and disrupt bacterial biofilms, all of which are relevant to the wound repair process. The available evidence includes a 2024 materials science study demonstrating that serratiopeptidase can be successfully incorporated into pH-responsive hydrogel wound dressings with full enzyme release and apparent biocompatibility with healthy skin cells, alongside several narrative and systematic reviews summarizing the enzyme's broader biological properties. Studies indicate, however, that the overall evidence base remains limited and of generally poor quality — a 2013 systematic review of 24 clinical trials found most were hampered by small sample sizes, unclear dosing, and poorly defined outcomes, and multiple reviews acknowledge that the enzyme's large molecular size and environmental instability present real-world delivery challenges. While researchers continue to explore improved formulations and engineered variants, the current body of literature does not yet provide sufficient clinical evidence to draw firm conclusions about serrapeptase's effectiveness specifically for wound healing outcomes in humans.