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Nitric oxide-releasing PHEMA/polysilsesquioxane photocrosslinked hybrids
Herllan Vieira de Almeida1, Laura Caetano Escobar da Silva1, Bruno de Almeida Piscelli1
1Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, UNICAMP Campinas 13083-970 SP Brazil mgo@unicamp.br.
RSC Advances
|November 20, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed novel polymeric materials that release nitric oxide (NO) with tunable rates. These biocompatible hybrids show promise for antithrombotic medical devices by controlling NO delivery.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Polymeric materials releasing nitric oxide (NO) are crucial for biomedical applications.
- Modulating NO release rates by incorporating diverse NO donor molecules remains a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) / polysilsesquioxane (PSS) hybrid materials.
- To investigate the incorporation and release kinetics of distinct nitric oxide donors within these hybrid matrices.
- To evaluate the potential of these materials for antithrombotic applications.
Main Methods:
- Sol-gel polymerization and photocrosslinking to create PHEMA-PSS hybrids.
- Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine glass transition temperature.
- Swelling studies and contact angle measurements for material characterization.
- Incorporation of hydrophilic (GSNO) and hydrophobic (SNAP) NO donors.
- Real-time NO release measurements and computational modeling.
Main Results:
- Increasing PSS content (5-20 wt%) raised the glass transition temperature (107-133 °C).
- Hybrids exhibited reduced solvent uptake with higher PSS content and remained hydrophilic.
- Both GSNO and SNAP were successfully incorporated, with SNAP showing 2-10x higher initial NO release than GSNO.
- Computational modeling elucidated the interaction mechanisms of GSNO and SNAP within the polymer matrix.
- Materials demonstrated no cytotoxicity toward endothelial cells.
Conclusions:
- Novel PHEMA-PSS hybrid materials offer tunable nitric oxide release.
- The materials' hydrophilic nature, controlled NO delivery, and biocompatibility make them suitable for antithrombotic blood-contacting devices.
- This work presents a new platform for developing advanced nitric oxide-releasing biomaterials.
