Ultrasound-Activated Nitric Oxide Release Nanoplatforms and Their Biomedical Applications

Nitric oxide (NO), a crucial signaling molecule, plays a significant role in the treatment of various diseases. However, the short half-life of NO limits its biological applications, and different strategies have been designed to control its release. Therefore, the selection of NO donors and triggering mechanisms has become an important focus of research. Ultrasound (US), due to its deep tissue penetration, minimal side effects, and noninvasiveness, has become a promising way to control the release of NO. In this review, we systematically examine the current designs of US-activated NO nanoplatforms (UANNs) and explore their diverse biomedical applications, categorizing their activation mechanisms into three types: (1) US directly releases NO gas, (2) US directly activates NO donors, and (3) US indirectly acts on NO donors. We also highlight the applications of UANNs in treating diseases such as tumor therapy, wound healing, vascular diseases, neurological diseases, and imaging. This review aims to enhance the understanding of the designs and mechanisms of UANNs while providing insights for expanding their application scope.