| Posted: January 6, 2010 |
Nitric oxide-releasing wrap for donor organs and cloth for therapeutic socks |
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(Nanowerk News) Scientists in Texas are reporting development of a first-of-its-kind cloth that releases nitric oxide gas — an advance toward making therapeutic socks for people with diabetes and a wrap to help preserve organs harvested for transplantation. The study is in ACS’ Chemistry of Materials ("Novel Delivery System for the Bioregulatory Agent Nitric Oxide").
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| Porous materials termed zeolites, incorporated into this cloth, point the way to therapeutic bandages and wraps that can deliver healing nitric oxide.
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Kenneth Balkus and Harvey Liu note in the new study that nitric oxide (NO) helps increase blood flow and regulates a range of other body functions. Scientists have tried for years to find practical ways to store and deliver NO for use in medicine. However, they have had difficulty finding a suitable material that allows controlled delivery of NO. Recent studies suggested that zeolites could work. These porous materials soak up and store large amounts of gases like NO.
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The scientists describe development of a new bandage composed of nitric oxide-absorbing zeolites embedded in a special water-repellant polymer. In experiments with laboratory rats, the bandage slowly released nitric oxide and increased blood flow. “The bandage could be used to wrap a donor organ ensuring intimate contact and direct delivery of nitric oxide,” the report states. “Additionally, these interwoven fabrics could also find applications in smart textiles such as NO-releasing socks for diabetic patients, who have been shown to produce less nitric oxide than healthy patients.”
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