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Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds
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Recent Advances in Nitric Oxide-Releasing Metallodrugs for Cancer Therapy

Jiahao Zeng1, Jiaqi Guo1, Hui Chao1,2

  • 1MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Discovery and Development, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Functional Molecular Engineering, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.

Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|July 21, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Nitric oxide (NO) releasing metallodrugs offer dual cancer therapy potential. Controlled delivery systems harness NO

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cancer Therapy
  • Drug Delivery

Background:

  • Nitric oxide (NO) has dual roles in cancer, promoting growth at low levels and killing cells at high levels.
  • Precise control over NO delivery is crucial for therapeutic applications.
  • Transition metal-based platforms are being developed for controlled NO release.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review advances in transition metal-based platforms for controlled NO release in cancer therapy.
  • To examine strategies for NO loading and stimulus-triggered release.
  • To highlight the immunomodulatory effects of NO-releasing metallodrugs.

Main Methods:

  • Review of small molecule metallodrugs and nano/microscale delivery systems.
  • Analysis of NO loading and release mechanisms (metal-NO coordination, organic donors, catalytic generation).
  • Assessment of immunomodulatory functions and combination therapies.

Main Results:

  • Various strategies exist for controlled NO release using metal-based platforms.
  • NO-releasing metallodrugs exhibit immunomodulatory effects, including inducing immunogenic cell death.
  • Synergistic effects observed with immune checkpoint blockade.

Conclusions:

  • Transition metal-based platforms show promise for controlled NO delivery in cancer therapy.
  • Further development is needed for clinical translation, focusing on tumor targeting and pharmacokinetics.
  • NO-releasing metallodrugs offer potential for enhanced cancer immunotherapy.
Keywords:
antitumorbioinorganic chemistryimmunotherapymetallodrugsnitric oxide

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