Biodegradable crosslinked polyesters derived from thiomalic acid and S-nitrosothiol analogues for nitric oxide release

Photothermal-controlled NO-releasing Nanogels reverse epithelial-mesenchymal transition and restore immune surveillance against cancer metastasis

Metastasis leads to high mortality among cancer patients. It is a complex, multi-step biological process that involves the dissemination of cancer cells from the primary tumor and their systemic spread throughout the body, primarily through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program and immune evasion mechanisms. It presents a challenge in how to comprehensively treat metastatic cancer cells throughout the entire stage of the metastatic cascade using a simple system. Here, we fabricate a nanogel (HNO-NG) by covalently crosslinking a macromolecular nitric oxide (NO) donor with a photothermal IR780 iodide-containing hyaluronic acid derivative via a click reaction. This enables stable storage and tumor-targeted, photothermia-triggered release of NO to combat tumor metastasis throughout all stages. Upon laser irradiation (HNO-NG+L), the surge in NO production within tumor cells impairs the NF-κB/Snail/RKIP signaling loop that promotes the EMT program through S-nitrosylation, thus inhibiting cell dissemination from the primary tumor. On the other hand, it induces immunogenic cell death (ICD) and thereby augments anti-tumor immunity, which is crucial for killing both the primary tumor and systemically distributed tumor cells. Therefore, HNO-NG+L, by fully leveraging EMT reversal, ICD induction, and the lethal effect of NO, achieved impressive eradication of the primary tumor and significant prevention of lung metastasis in a mouse model of orthotropic 4T1 breast tumor that spontaneously metastasizes to the lungs, extending the NO-based therapeutic approach against tumor metastasis.

Recent advances on the development of NO-releasing molecules (NORMs) for biomedical applications

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important biological messenger as well as a signaling molecule that participates in a broad range of physiological events and therapeutic applications in biological systems. However, due to its very short half-life in physiological conditions, its therapeutic applications are restricted. Efforts have been made to develop an enormous number of NO-releasing molecules (NORMs) and motifs for NO delivery to the target tissues. These NORMs involve organic nitrate, nitrite, nitro compounds, transition metal nitrosyls, and several nanomaterials. The controlled release of NO from these NORMs to the specific site requires several external stimuli like light, sound, pH, heat, enzyme, etc. Herein, we have provided a comprehensive review of the biochemistry of nitric oxide, recent advancements in NO-releasing materials with the appropriate stimuli of NO release, and their biomedical applications in cancer and other disease control.

Pair of Functional Polyesters That Are Photo-Cross-Linkable and Electrospinnable to Engineer Elastomeric Scaffolds with Tunable Structure and Properties

A pair of alkyne- and thiol-functionalized polyesters are designed to engineer elastomeric scaffolds with a wide range of tunable material properties (e.g., thermal, degradation, and mechanical properties) for different tissues, given their different host responses, mechanics, and regenerative capacities. The two prepolymers are quickly photo-cross-linkable through thiol-yne click chemistry to form robust elastomers with small permanent deformations. The elastic moduli can be easily tuned between 0.96 ± 0.18 and 7.5 ± 2.0 MPa, and in vitro degradation is mediated from hours up to days by adjusting the prepolymer weight ratios. These elastomers bear free hydroxyl and thiol groups with a water contact angle of less than 85.6 ± 3.58 degrees, indicating a hydrophilic nature. The elastomer is compatible with NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells with cell viability reaching 88 ± 8.7% relative to the TCPS control at 48 h incubation. Differing from prior soft elastomers, a mixture of the two prepolymers without a carrying polymer is electrospinnable and UV-cross-linkable to fabricate elastic fibrous scaffolds for soft tissues. The designed prepolymer pair can thus ease the fabrication of elastic fibrous conduits, leading to potential use as a resorbable synthetic graft. The elastomers could find use in other tissue engineering applications as well.

Long-Term Storage Stability and Nitric Oxide Release Behavior of (N-Acetyl-S-nitrosopenicillaminyl)-S-nitrosopenicillamine-Incorporated Silicone Rubber Coatings

Physical incorporation of nitric oxide (NO) releasing materials in biomedical grade polymer matrices to fabricate antimicrobial coatings and devices is an economically viable process. However, achieving long-term NO release with a minimum or no leaching of the NO donor from the polymer matrix is still a challenging task. Herein, (N-acetyl-S-nitrosopenicillaminyl)-S-nitrosopenicillamine (SNAP-SNAP), a penicillamine dipeptide NO-releasing molecule, is incorporated into a commercially available biomedical grade silicone rubber (SR) to fabricate a NO-releasing coating (SNAP-SNAP/SR). The storage stabilities of the SNAP-SNAP powder and SNAP-SNAP/SR coating were analyzed at different temperatures. The SNAP-SNAP/SR coatings with varying wt % of SNAP-SNAP showed a tunable and sustained NO release for up to 6 weeks. Further, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), a well-explored NO-releasing molecule, was incorporated into a biomedical grade silicone polymer to fabricate a NO-releasing coating (SNAP/SR) and a comparative analysis of the NO release and S-nitrosothiol (RSNO) leaching behavior of 10 wt % SNAP-SNAP/SR and 10 wt % SNAP/SR was studied. Interestingly, the 10 wt % SNAP-SNAP/SR coatings exhibited ∼36% higher NO release and 4 times less leaching of NO donors than the 10 wt % SNAP/SR coatings. Further, the 10 wt % SNAP-SNAP/SR coatings exhibited promising antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli due to the persistent release of NO. The 10 wt % SNAP-SNAP/SR coatings were also found to be biocompatible against NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. These results corroborate the sustained stability and NO-releasing properties of the SNAP-SNAP in a silicone polymer matrix and demonstrate the potential for the SNAP-SNAP/SR polymer in the fabrication of long-term indwelling biomedical devices and implants to enhance biocompatibility and resist device-related infections.

Enzyme-Activated Nitric Oxide-Releasing Composite Material for Antibacterial Activity Against Escherichia coli

Bacterial infections occurring on medical devices are incredibly difficult to treat, highlighting the urgency for progress in developing antibiotics and antibacterial materials. This work describes the preparation of an antibacterial prodrug polymer composite material for use as an antibacterial coating for medical devices to prevent infections. Polyvinyl chloride and polyurethane films are prepared containing a bacterial nitroreductase enzyme-activated diazeniumdiolate that releases nitric oxide (NO), a known potent antimicrobial agent. Characterization of the surface of the composite materials by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) reveals that the surface of the materials is composed of high amounts of nitrogen due to incorporation of the NO donor compound, up to 13.2% nitrogen on the surface of the 2.5% w/v diazeniumdiolate composite. NO release from the composite films is observed only after metabolism by a bacterial nitroreductase enzyme isolated from E. coli, demonstrating the prodrug nature of the polymer composite materials. Antibacterial efficacy experiments resulted in up to a 66% reduction in E. coli after exposure to the diazeniumdiolate-composite materials. This work details the first illustration of an antibacterial enzyme-activated NO-releasing polymer, a material with potential application as a medical device coating to prevent device-associated infections and improve patient outcomes.

Endothelial mimetic multifunctional surfaces fabricated via polydopamine mediated copper immobilization

Nitric oxide (NO), which is continuously released from the normal healthy endodermis cell layer of the vascular system, plays a crucial role in the stability and health maintenance of blood vessels.