The Therapeutic Potential of H₂S-Releasing Platforms in Cardiovascular Applications

Once known as a toxic gas, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is now making its way into many therapeutic applications. Similar to its other fellow endogenous gasotransmitters, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, H₂S is a small gas with a short half-life, making it extremely capable of penetrating through cell membranes quite easily and fast via gas exchange. This fundamental small molecule possesses many physiological and pathological functions and is found in almost every mammalian system, such as the cardiovascular system, the integumentary/skin system, the neural system, the gastrointestinal tract system, and the skeletal system. As a therapeutic, the gas can modulate biological pathways, maintain homeostasis under physiological conditions, and mediate several pathological processes, thereby supporting cardioprotective applications. Due to the ever-increasing cardiovascular complications, especially concerning myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis, more and more patients are suffering from heart failure, and in some cases, this results in death. To remedy the progression of cardiovascular complications and cardiovascular disease burden as a whole, H₂S has emerged as a potential candidate to mediate this problem. This review will specifically focus on the therapeutic potential of H₂S-releasing platforms tailored to aid in cardiovascular applications.