Enhancing sustained nitric oxide release: A nanocomposite microparticle approach with montmorillonite and...

Nitric Oxide as an endogenous signaling molecule plays important roles in physiological process. The therapeutic efficacy of nitric oxide across various applications is highly dependent on its concentration. However, its clinical application is substantially hindered by its gaseous nature and short half-life, despite its numerous beneficial properties. Consequently, the exogenous and prolonged release of NO necessitates the utilization of suitable donors and carriers. This study presents a nano-in-micro particle system developed to enable controlled and prolonged nitric oxide release for a period exceeding 18 days. S- nitrosoglutathione (GSNO, a nitric oxide donor), was successfully synthesized and intercalated between organophilic montmorillonite to obtain GOMT nanoparticles. Subsequently, the GOMT nanoparticles were encapsulated in PLA microparticles to extend the release period. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis validated the successful encapsulation of GOMT within the microparticles. The nitric oxide release profile demonstrated a prolonged release over a period of 18 days. Furthermore, the microparticles exhibited significant antibacterial activity without any evidence of cytotoxicity toward human dermal fibroblast cells. Therefore, the GOMT-loaded microparticles developed in this study represent a promising approach for extending the nitric oxide release profile, with potential applications in tissue engineering.