Light-Induced Acid Generation on a Gatekeeper for Smart Nitric Oxide Delivery

- Hyung Woo Choi†, Jihoon Kim†, Jinhwan Kim, Yonghwi Kim, Hyun Beom Song, Jeong Hun Kim, Kimoon Kim, and Won Jong Kim*

Nitric Oxide (NO) is a next generation drug due to its participate in angiogenesis, apoptosis, immune responses, neurotransmission, and cardiovascular homeostasis in vivo. We report herein the design of a light-responsive gatekeeper for smart nitric oxide (NO) delivery by utilizing the calcium phosphate (CaP) coating layer and pH-jump reagent. This is the first system which imparts the pH- and light-responsiveness to the diazeniumdiolate which is extremely unstable under physiological conditions. In addition, its therapeutic potential on the wounded cornea has been demonstrated. This gatekeeper system provided knowledge for advancing the development of a superior delivery system of genes and drugs combined with NO.