PRODUCTION OF NITRIC OXIDE FROM MICROENCAPSULATED REACTANTS

摘要

Methods and compositions are provided for generating and applying long-lasting therapeutic nitric oxide (NO) gas from the reaction of water-soluble chemical reactants microencapsulated in polymer matrices. Also provided are embodiments where the long- lasting therapeutic nitric oxide (NO) gas is produced from reaction of a least one microencapsulated nitrite salt and an activating volume of an aqueous acidified gel that has sufficient acidity to convert the nitrite salt to a nitric oxide (NO) and further provides a reducing property that retains the NO in bioactive form. In some applications the microencapsulated reactants are introduced in an aqueous gel, and in other applications they are introduced to the area of therapy either directly or in a medical device such as a therapeutic pad or dressing. In some applications, the microencapsulated chemical precursors are maintained in close physical proximity to one another in a limited volume, and using a limited amount of solvent residing within that same volume to extract and process the chemical precursors to form NO.