Nitric oxide releasing materials for the prevention of thrombosis and restenosis

The goal of the current study was to synthesize biofunctional polymers that spontaneously release nitric oxide under physiological conditions. Such materials may have applications for the prevention of thrombosis and restenosis following arterial injury. We have synthesized two hydrogels that release nitric oxide (NO) with different release kinetics. There was evidence of NO release over a period of several weeks from NO-nucleophile complexes within hydrogels, while S-nitrosocysteine hydrogels displayed NO release over several hours.