Reactive Nitrogen Species Releasing Hydrogel for Enhanced Wound Healing

Poor proliferation and migration of fibroblast, keratinocyte and endothelial cells delays the wound healing in diabetic patients and results into chronicity of wounds. Slow or decreased formation of blood vessels is another issue that increases the chronicity of non-healing wounds. These chronic wounds turn into an ulcer that may lead to limb amputation. Recently, nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a potential agent for accelerating cell migration and proliferation to enhance wound healing. It increases the expression of necessary angiogenic growth factors which stimulates the proliferation and migration of major cell types involved in wound repair. Here we report the synthesis of chitosan (CS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and a NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP) to enhance the wound healing activities in chronic wounds. A three-fold increase in the proliferation of 3T3 cells was observed with NO-releasing CS-PVA hydrogels. In vitro cell migration assay demonstrated a four-fold faster migration of cells to the scratched area compared to the control group. The results depict that the use of CS-PVA hydrogel impregnated with the NO donor (SNAP) can be a promising material for promoting cell migration and subsequent accelerated healing of the chronic wounds in burns and diabetic patients.