Newly Developed Nitric Oxide-Releasing Polymers Have Potential Medical Applications

A newly developed group of plastics that release nitric oxide (NO)--a molecule that influences body functions ranging from sexual function to communication among nerves--may have broad applications in medicine, according to researchers.

Dr. Joseph A. Hrabie, from the U.S. National Cancer Institute (Frederick, MD, USA), and colleagues at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL, USA) reported synthesis of NO-releasing forms of the most commercially important polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymers. The new polymers include a textile, a plastic and a rubber.
Their findings were published in an article in the April 4, 2007, issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Some of the materials continuously release small amounts of NO for months. NO dilates blood vessels and has other bodily actions, suggesting that it could reduce adverse effects such as blood vessel scaring and narrowing that are likely to occur after coronary angioplasty and bypass surgery.

In studies with laboratory rats, the researchers revealed that a NO-releasing variant of PAN powder, applied after balloon angioplasty, decreased formation of scar tissue in the artery. "Many applications of this chemistry in vascular surgery and other medical procedures can be envisioned,” the authors wrote in their article. "Possible applications of these polymers include arterial stenting, bypass grafting, and surgical endarterectomy.”


Related Links:
U.S. National Cancer Institute
Northwestern University