Controlled photoinitiated release of nitric oxide from polymer films containing S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine derivatized fumed silica filler.

This report describes the first hydrophobic nitric oxide (NO)-releasing material that utilizes light as an external on/off trigger to control the flux of NO generated from cured polymer films. Fumed silica polymer filler particles were derivatized with S-nitroso-N-acetyl-dl-penicillamine and blended into the center layer of trilayer silicone rubber films. Nitric oxide is generated upon irradiation with light, and fluxes increase with increasing power of incident light. The ability to precisely control NO generation from this material has the potential to answer fundamental questions about the levels of NO needed to achieve desired therapeutic affects in different biomedical applications.