Nitric oxide-generating hydrogels inhibit neointima formation.

This study evaluated the effects of localized delivery of nitric oxide (NO) from hydrogels covalently modified with S-nitrosocysteine (Cys-NO) on neoinitma formation, a key component of restenosis, in a rat balloon-injury model. Soluble Cys-NO was used in preliminary studies to identify dosage ranges that were able to simultaneously inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation, enhance endothelial cell proliferation, and reduce platelet adhesion. Photo-cross-linked PEG-based hydrogels were formed with covalently immobilized Cys-NO.

Effects of nitric oxide releasing poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel dressings on dermal wound healing in diabetic mice.

Healing of chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers is a significant clinical problem. Methods of accelerating healing in these difficult lower extremity sites include use of growth factor-loaded gels, hyperbaric oxygen, grafts, and artificial skin replacements. Nitric oxide (NO) has been proposed as a possible active agent for enhancing wound healing.

YC-1-mediated vascular protection through inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation and platelet function.

YC-1, a synthetic benzyl indazole derivative, is capable of stimulating endogenous vessel wall cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production and attenuating the remodeling response to experimental arterial angioplasty. In an effort to investigate the mechanisms of this YC-1-mediated vasoprotection, we examined the influence of soluble YC-1 or YC-1 incorporated in a polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel on cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) cGMP synthesis, SMC proliferation, and platelet function. Results demonstrate that soluble YC-1 stimulated SMC cGMP production in a dose-dependent fashion, while both soluble and hydrogel-released YC-1 inhibited vascular SMC proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion without effects on cell viability.