Nitric Oxide Releasing Dressings for Wound Healing

We will produce a new generation of hydrocolloid wound dressings that assist wound healing in patiehealing wounds. This will be accomplished by the topical delivery of nitric oxide (NO) - a moleculebiological functions, locally at the wound site. Delivery of NO will be achieved through the incorpopolymers, such as polyethyleneimine-cellulose - nitric oxide adducts (PEI-cellulose-NONOates) in thehydrocolloid dressings. Current research shows that the presence of such NO releasing polymers in thenhancement of wound repair. Evidence also exists that enhanced NO production, occurring in normal awounding, is suppressed in diabetic or otherwise immunosuppressed animals. These facts lead us to bedelivery of NO at the wound site may enhance healing in clinical situations. Accordingly, various PEwith a range of NO loading will be prepared. NO loading in these polymers will be ascertained by relbuffer. The polymers will then be loaded in hydrocolloid dressings. The NO release rate from these ddetermined in vitro, followed by in vivo evaluation of these dressings in the rodent full-thicknessDiabetic and immunosuppressed (Suiteroid-treated) animals will be used for these evaluations.