Liquid Gallium Nanozyme Coatings Enable Sustained Nitric Oxide Generation With Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Catalysis

Background:

• Artificial nanozymes offer tunable catalytic activity for biomedical uses.
• Liquid gallium (Ga) is explored as a novel catalytic center for nitric oxide (NO) generation.
• Developing stable, multifunctional coatings is crucial for advanced biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce liquid gallium (Ga) as a catalytic center for NO generation.
• To develop a multifunctional coating using Ga, tannic acid (TA), and a TA-zirconium (TA-Zr⁴⁺) metal-phenolic network (MPN).
• To evaluate the NO generation, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and biocompatibility properties of the developed coating.

Main Methods:

• Stabilization of Ga nanoparticles with TA and embedding into a TA-Zr⁴⁺ MPN to form robust films.
• Catalytic assessment of Ga for S-nitrosothiol (RSNO) decomposition and NO generation.
• In vitro evaluation of NO production, anti-inflammatory effects (TNF-α, IL-6 reduction), and endothelial cell biocompatibility.

Main Results:

• Ga catalyzed substrate-independent NO generation from RSNOs and endogenous precursors in HUVECs.
• The TA-Zr⁴⁺ MPN framework provided stability and intrinsic antioxidant/anti-inflammatory benefits.
• Coatings enhanced intracellular NO levels by ~48% and reduced TNF-α and IL-6 by ~35% and ~40%, respectively.
• The developed coatings demonstrated excellent endothelial biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• Liquid gallium is an effective catalyst for NO generation in advanced nanomaterials.
• The TA-Zr⁴⁺ MPN platform provides a stable, multifunctional coating with therapeutic potential.
• This strategy advances implant coatings towards active, regenerative, and multifunctional interfaces.