PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION

2023

Antimicrobial Effect of Nitric Oxide Releasing Hydrogels on Staphylococcus Aureus Derived Proteases

Deller RC, Li M, et al.

Advanced Materials Interfaces

University of Liverpool, Johns Hopkins University

RESEARCH SUMMARY

This study developed nitric oxide (NO)–releasing poly-ε-lysine (pεK) hydrogels as multifunctional wound dressings designed to both reduce bacterial burden and preserve skin barrier integrity. The hydrogels demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus while simultaneously inhibiting the activity of secreted V8 protease, a key virulence factor that disrupts extracellular matrix remodeling during wound healing. Mechanical characterization confirmed that NO functionalization modestly reduced hydrogel stiffness while maintaining properties within the range suitable for skin and wound applications. The work highlights the importance of coupling antimicrobial efficacy with mechanically appropriate biomaterials to modulate inflammation, fibrosis, and tissue repair in infected wounds.

Unconfined compression testing was performed using a CellScale UniVert to quantify the elastic modulus of pεK, penicillin-loaded pεK, and NO-releasing pεK hydrogels. Disk-shaped hydrogel specimens were compressed under displacement control to high strain levels, and stress–strain data were used to calculate Young’s modulus. These measurements verified that NO functionalization altered hydrogel stiffness while maintaining mechanical properties appropriate for wound dressing applications, enabling correlation between scaffold mechanics, antimicrobial performance, and tissue barrier preservation.

AUTHORS

Robert C. Deller; Man Li; Kyle G. Doherty; Jenny Aveyard; Rachel L. Williams; Keli N. Kolegraff; Stephen B. Kaye; Raechelle A. D’Sa.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

JOURNAL

Advanced Materials Interfaces

YEAR

2023

INSTITUTIONS

University of Liverpool, Johns Hopkins University

COUNTRIES

United Kingdom, United States

INSTRUMENT USED

UniVert

TESTING METHODS

Compression Testing

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

ECM & Decellularized Matrix MechanicsHydrogel Mechanical TestingInjectable & Regenerative BiomaterialsMechanotransductionSkin and Wound Healing Biomechanics

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