Compositions and methods of improved wound healing

1. A method of improving healing of a sterile or toll-like receptor (TLR)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain receptor (NOD) ligand-poor wound, comprising:

administering a Ca 2+ -flux agonist (CFA) at a concentration and a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) ligand to a patient under a protocol that ensures presence of at least a portion of the CFA and at least a portion of the PRR ligand at the wound;

wherein the concentration of CFA is below an amount providing the maximum response obtainable with the CFA in the absence of the PRR ligand;

wherein the portion of the CFA and the portion of the PRR ligand are present in the wound in an amount effective to improve healing of the wound;

wherein the PRR ligand is selected from the group consisting of Pam2CSK4, Pam2CYS, PAM2, ODN2006, lipopolysaccharide, C12iE-DAP, flagellin, and muramyl dipeptide; and

wherein the CFA is selected from the group consisting of ionomycin, A23187, thapsigargin, cyclopiazonic acid, and 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone (DBHQ).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CFA and PRR ligand are present in a single formulation that is formulated for topical administration.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the CFA and PRR ligand are coupled to a surface of a medical item for wound treatment.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the medical item for wound treatment is a suture, a staple, a clamp, an implant, or wound dressing.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wound is produced by a surgical procedure, or is a traumatic injury without an acute or persistent infection.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the improved wound healing is characterized by at least one of reduced time to closure of a surface wound, reduced incidence of infection of the wound, and increased tissue remodeling within the wound.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protocol comprises directly and contemporaneously contacting the wound with the CFA and the PRR ligand.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of contacting is topical administration to the wound and/or exposing the wound to a medical item for wound treatment to which the CFA and PRR are coupled.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CFA and the PRR ligand are present in synergistic quantities with respect to the improvement of the wound healing.

10. A method of treating a sterile or TLR/NOD ligand-poor wound, comprising:

administering to the wound a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) ligand to produce at the wound site a non-saturating stimulus for a TLR and/or NOD signaling pathway;

administering to the wound a Ca 2+ -flux agonist (CFA) in an amount effective to amplify the stimulus;

wherein amplification of the stimulus is performed under a protocol that improves healing of the wound;

wherein the PRR ligand is selected from the group consisting of Pam2CSK4, Pam2CYS, PAM2, ODN2006, lipopolysaccharide, C12iE-DAP, flagellin, and muramyl dipeptide; and

wherein the CFA is selected from the group consisting of ionomycin, A23187, thapsigargin, cyclopiazonic acid, and 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone (DBHQ).

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the CFA and PRR ligand are topically administered to the wound.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the CFA and PRR ligand are coupled to a surface of a medical item for wound treatment, and wherein the steps of administering are performed by contacting the wound with the medical item.