S-nitrosothiol-terminated Pluronic F127: Influence of microstructure on nitric oxide release

Hypothesis: Nitric oxide (NO)-releasing Pluronic F127 hydrogels (F127) containing dissolved S-nitrosothiols or pendant N-diazeniumdiolate (NONOate) groups have been described. The NO charging of these hydrogels is usually limited by their low stability or disruption of the micellar packing. S-nitrosothiol-terminated F127 may emerge as a new strategy for allowing NO delivery at different rates in biomedical applications.
Experiments: Terminal hydroxyl groups of F127 were esterified and reduced to produce F127-mercaptopropionate (HS-F127-SH), which was subsequently S-nitrosated to generate S-nitrosothiolterminated F127 (ONS-F127-SNO). Micro-differential scanning calorimetry, 1H NMR spin-spin relaxation (T2), temperature-dependent small-angle X-ray scattering, and cryo-transmission electron microscopy, were used to determine the micellar packing structure, while real-time chemiluminescence NO detection and UV–Vis spectrophotometry were used to evaluate the kinetics of NO release.
Findings: HS-F127-SH micellization and gelation processes were analogous to native F127, however, with a decreased short-range ordering of the micelles. ONS-F127-SNO hydrogels released NO thorough a preferentially intramicellar SNO dimerization reaction. Increasing ONS-F127-SNO concentration reduces the rate of SNO dimerization and increases the overall rate of NO release to the gas phase, opening up new possibilities for tailoring NO delivery from F127-based hydrogels.