Nitric oxide (NO) is a small, but
extremely important biological chemical that functions as a signaling molecule
for many cellular processes. Macrophages, a type of immune system cell, secrete
high concentrations of NO when attacking infectious microbes. This particular
characteristic of macrophages can be simulated by semi-permeable membrane
pouches filled with NO-loaded zeolites mixed with a hydrophobic ointment base. Prior
research has shown that certain pouches release levels of NO that are capable
of killing several types of common wound pathogens. However, literature
suggests that the concentrations of NO that are capable of killing microbes,
could be harmful to fibroblasts, the cells in a wound responsible for starting
the healing and tissue repair processes. The goal for this research project was
to expose fibroblasts to pouches known to kill bacteria in order to quantify
the effect, detrimental or beneficial. This was done in vitro by submerging the NO pouches using Transwells in cell
culture medium where the NO was free to diffuse across to the cell layer.
Preliminary results indicate that NO concentrations high enough to kill
microbes are only slightly detrimental to fibroblasts which is promising when
further developing this novel method for wound care.
