A multifunctional hyaluronic acid- polyurethane foam with prolonged nitric oxide release: In-vitro evaluation for...

Nitric oxide-based treatments have received increasing attention because of their diverse regulatory roles in physiological processes, with emerging relevance in wound healing applications. This study presents a multifunctional polyurethane foam incorporating NO-releasing nanocomposite microparticles to enable sustained NO delivery as a wound dressing. The NO donor was synthesized and characterized by FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, then intercalated into organophilic montmorillonite nanoparticles with a loading efficiency of 79.3 ± 2.1%. The nanoparticles were subsequently encapsulated into PLGA microparticles via solid-in-oil emulsion solvent evaporation, yielding nanocomposite microparticles with a mean diameter of 11.14 ± 4.6 μm, a loading efficiency of 62.7 ± 2.93%, and no cytotoxic effects. The microparticles were uniformly dispersed throughout the foam, supporting prolonged NO release for up to 17 days. The foam exhibited high swelling capacity while maintaining water retention, enabling effective exudate absorption. Mechanical and rheological analyses confirmed suitable strength and resilience, while SEM revealed an interconnected porous structure. Biocompatibility assessments demonstrated hemocompatibility and an absence of cytotoxicity. Moreover, in-vitro studies indicated enhanced proliferation and migration of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and endothelial cells (HUVECs). These findings suggest that the NO-releasing polyurethane foam is a promising platform for sustained NO delivery with potential wound healing effects.