Methods and compounds are disclosed for wound healing by modulating autophagy. A formulation for modulating autophagy comprises a first modulating compound (FAM) selected from compounds having the general structure (I):






wherein: L represents a linker selected from —C≡C—, (a tolan), —CH═CH— (a stilbene, preferably trans); or —CRa═CRb— a stilbene derivative; where Ra and Rb are independently H or phenyl optionally substituted with —(R3)p or —(R4)q;
R1 to R4 are independent substituents at any available position of the phenyl rings, preferably at 3, 3′, 4, 4′, and/or 5, 5′; and m, n, p, and q are independently 0, 1, 2, or 3 representing the number of substituents of the rings, respectively, but at least one of m or n must be ≥1. Each R1 to R2 is independently selected from substituents described herein, including but not limited to hydroxyl, alkoxy, halo, halomethyl and glycosides. The formulation may also include an auxiliary autophagy modulating compound (AAM) as described herein. The formulation may include a hydrogel formed by the compounds themselves or otherwise and may include salts and/or complexes.