Nitric Oxide Delivery Using Biocompatible Perfluorocarbon Microemulsion for Antibacterial Effect.

Nitric oxide (NO) participates in various physiological and pathophysiological processes, for example, as a cell messenger and as an antimicrobial agent of the cell-mediated immune response. The development of NO-releasing materials to carry and deliver NO for biomedical applications has gained immense attention. NO-releasing perfluorooctane (PFO) microemulsion (ME) has been prepared using a simple and time-saving method. Perfluorocarbon (PFC) liquids are halogen-substituted carbon nonpolar oils with enhanced NO gas dissolution capacity. The solubility of NO in PFC liquids is higher than that in water-based fluids. Liquid-gas solubility is governed by Henry's Law. The cytotoxicity of the NO-unloaded and NO-loaded PFO MEs toward human dermal fibroblast (HDF) was evaluated. The results showed that the NO-loaded PFO ME was highly biocompatible. On the other hand, at high concentrations the NO-releasing PFO ME accelerated the bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) death unlike the NO-unloaded PFO ME. Hence, NO-releasing PFO MEs are suitable for biomedical applications such as wound healing and antibacterial agents.