Introduction – Nitric Oxide Donors and Biomedical Materials
Nitric oxide (NO) has interested chemists, materials scientists, and biomedical researchers for decades.
Although it is a simple molecule, nitric oxide plays an important role in biology. It is involved in wound healing, blood vessel regulation, immune response, and antimicrobial defense.
The challenge is not only producing nitric oxide. The real challenge is delivering it in a controlled and useful way.
One successful approach has been the development of N-diazeniumdiolates, also known as NONOates. These nitric oxide donors can store and release nitric oxide under physiological conditions.
They have been widely studied for applications such as antimicrobial coatings, wound-healing therapies, implantable medical devices, and biosensors.
Challenge: Balancing NO Loading and Scaffold Preservation
While N-diazeniumdiolate chemistry may sound simple in principle, the practical reality is more complex.
Generating high nitric oxide donor loadings often requires elevated nitric oxide pressure and strongly basic reaction conditions.
These conditions can support NONOate formation. However, they can also damage sensitive polymeric scaffolds, including biologically active glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, reducing their biological functionality and limiting their usefulness in biomedical applications.
This creates a major challenge for researchers.
The aim is not simply to maximize nitric oxide loading at any cost. Researchers must also preserve the structure and function of the material carrying the nitric oxide donor.
For many nitric oxide-releasing biomaterials, the scaffold does more than hold the donor. It may provide mechanical strength, biological activity, biocompatibility, or targeted delivery properties.
If the scaffold is damaged during synthesis, the final material may lose its value.
So the real question becomes:
How can researchers maximise nitric oxide donor formation while preserving the properties of the underlying biomaterial scaffold?
A Solution: Parallel Pressure Chemistry with ChemSCAN
This challenge forms the basis of the upcoming H.E.L. webinar, “Optimizing N-Diazeniumdiolate NO Donors Using Parallel Pressure Chemistry with ChemSCAN.”
Researchers from the Schoenfisch Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will share their work on optimizing the synthesis of N-diazeniumdiolate nitric oxide donors.
The webinar will focus on balancing the need to maximize nitric oxide donor formation with the preservation of the biomaterial scaffold’s properties.
Using the H.E.L. ChemSCAN parallel-pressure reactor system, the group was able to screen reaction variables more efficiently and to support the development of novel nitric oxide-releasing biomaterials.
Featured Speakers
Eugene B. Chang
Director of the University of Chicago Microbiome Medicine Program
Martin Boyer Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Session Topics
A major theme throughout the session will be the challenge of optimizing NO donor synthesis without damaging the material scaffold.
For many nitric oxide-releasing biomaterials, the polymer scaffold is not just a passive carrier. It may provide structure, function, biological activity, or compatibility with a biomedical application.
This means researchers must consider several goals at the same time:
- Maximizing N-diazeniumdiolate formation
- Increasing nitric oxide storage capacity
- Preserving polymer integrity
- Maintaining biological function
- Avoiding unwanted side reactions
- Reducing material degradation
Small changes in reaction conditions can have a significant effect on the final material.
The webinar will discuss variables such as nitric oxide pressure, reaction duration, temperature, solvent systems, base concentration, and polymer formulation.
These factors can influence nitric oxide storage, release behavior, and overall material performance.
The session will also explain why this type of chemistry is well-suited to the H.E.L. ChemSCAN parallel-pressure reactor system.
N-diazeniumdiolate synthesis relies on pressurized nitric oxide gas. Instead of testing one condition at a time, ChemSCAN allows researchers to study multiple reaction parameters in parallel under controlled pressure conditions.
For Maggie’s work, this supported faster investigation of key variables, including:
- Nitric oxide pressure
- Reaction duration
- Temperature
- Solvent systems
- Base concentration
- Polymer formulation
This approach can reduce development time and help researchers generate comparative datasets.
It also helps identify conditions that maximize nitric oxide donor formation while minimizing damage to the underlying scaffold.
The webinar will also cover the wider move from chemistry to therapeutic function.
A material that stores large amounts of nitric oxide may still fail if its structure or biological properties are damaged during synthesis.
On the other hand, a material with lower nitric oxide loading may perform better if its scaffold remains stable and functional.
This webinar will explore how parallel experimentation helped the research team navigate these trade-offs and identify an improved synthesis window for nitric oxide donor formation.
Attendees will gain insight into the underlying chemistry and the practical choices involved in developing advanced nitric oxide-releasing biomaterials.
For scientists working in biomaterials, polymer chemistry, drug delivery, medical device development, antimicrobial materials, or reaction optimization, this webinar offers the chance to hear directly from researchers working in the nitric oxide field.
Who is this webinar for?
This webinar is for scientists, researchers, and technical teams working in biomaterials, nitric oxide donor chemistry, polymer chemistry, drug delivery, wound healing materials, antimicrobial coatings, medical devices, biosensors, pressure chemistry, or reaction optimisation.
It will also be useful for researchers who need to optimise reactions while protecting sensitive materials or polymeric scaffolds.
What will the webinar cover?
The webinar will cover the optimisation of N-diazeniumdiolate nitric oxide donors using parallel pressure chemistry.
It will focus on how researchers can maximise nitric oxide donor formation while preserving the properties of the underlying biomaterial scaffold.
Who is presenting the webinar?
The webinar will be presented by Maggie Purvis from the Schoenfisch Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Her PhD work focused on the development of nitric oxide-releasing materials for biomedical applications.
What are N-diazeniumdiolates?
N-diazeniumdiolates, also known as NONOates, are nitric oxide donor systems that can store and release nitric oxide under physiological conditions.
They are studied for applications such as antimicrobial coatings, wound healing therapies, implantable medical devices, and biosensors.
Why is nitric oxide donor loading difficult to optimise?
High nitric oxide donor loading often requires elevated nitric oxide pressure and strongly basic reaction conditions.
These conditions can help form N-diazeniumdiolates, but they can also damage sensitive polymeric scaffolds.
This makes it important to balance nitric oxide loading with scaffold preservation.
Will the webinar discuss ChemSCAN?
Yes. The webinar will discuss how the H.E.L ChemSCAN parallel pressure reactor system was used to screen reaction variables and support the optimisation of N-diazeniumdiolate formation.
Why is parallel pressure chemistry useful for this work?
N-diazeniumdiolate synthesis uses pressurised nitric oxide gas.
Parallel pressure chemistry allows researchers to test multiple conditions at the same time instead of running many separate experiments one after another.
This can help reduce development time and improve comparison between reaction conditions.
What reaction variables will be discussed?
The webinar will discuss variables such as nitric oxide pressure, reaction duration, temperature, solvent systems, base concentration, and polymer formulation.
These factors can affect nitric oxide donor formation, scaffold stability, and final material performance.
Is this webinar more scientific or product-focused?
The main focus is scientific.
The session will explore nitric oxide donor chemistry, scaffold preservation, reaction optimisation, and the development of nitric oxide-releasing biomaterials.
ChemSCAN will be discussed as part of the workflow used to support the research.
Is this suitable for academic and industry researchers?
Yes. The topic is relevant to both academic and industry researchers working with biomaterials, nitric oxide donors, polymer systems, medical devices, drug delivery, antimicrobial materials, or pressure chemistry.
How do I register?
Click the registration button and complete the sign-up form. You will receive the webinar details after registering.
A globally recognized authority on the gut microbiome, inflammation, and metabolic disease, Dr. Chang’s pioneering work investigates how interactions between microbes and their human hosts influence health and disease. His research is helping to shape the future of microbiome-based therapeutics and preventative healthcare.