Applications of nitric oxide-releasing nanomaterials in dermatology: Skin infections and wound healing

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced in most cells in the skin and is an important regulator of essential cutaneous functions, including responses to UV irradiation, microbial defense, wound healing, melanogenesis and epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis. Harnessing the physiological activities of NO for therapeutic use is difficult because the molecule is highly reactive and unstable. A variety of exogenous NO delivery platforms have been developed and evaluated; however, they have limited clinical applications in dermatology due to instability and poor cutaneous penetration. Nanotechnology is a platform for NO delivery through which these limitations can be overcome, providing targeted tissue delivery, and sustained and controlled NO release. This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date evaluation of the use of NO-releasing nanomaterials in dermatology for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections, acne vulgaris, and wound healing.