Nanotechnology Allied to Nitric Oxide Release Materials for Dermatological Applications

Abstract

It is known that nitric oxide (NO) exerts numerous physiological activities in mammals and it is considered a key mediator in many skin disorders. NO is synthesized in human skin cells where it regulates diverse physiological mechanisms such as dermal blood flow, wound healing, skin pigmentation, and aging. The great challenge of NO-based therapies is to preserve the biological activity of this ephemeral free radical. To this end, new biomaterials have been emerging as platforms for NO release for diverse biomedical applications. This review will discuss the new strategies for releasing/generating controlled amounts of NO for several dermatological applications through the use of nanotechnology.