Photo controlled release of nitric oxide (NO) from amphiphilic and nanoscale vesicles based ruthenium nitrosyl complex: NO release and cytotoxicity studies

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important gaseous signaling molecule. Precise spatiotemporal control release of NO for therapeutic applications is still challenging. We report herein a new amphiphilic and nano scale vesicles based NO-delivery platform that is capable of light-controlled NO release. 1.Ru-NO was incorporated into the lipid bilayers to form nanoscale vesicles (Lip-1.Ru-NO) to make it bio-compatible and 100% water soluble. The liposome Lip-1.Ru-NO gradually released NO in blue light over a period of 120 min, with relatively high efficiency as compared to 1.Ru-NO in CH3CN-water mixture. Amount of NO release from liposomes could be easily controlled and modulated by changing the concentration of 1.Ru-NO in nano scale vesicles. Light triggered controlled NO release, water solubility, and non-toxic nature of the complex before and after NO release are fulfilled by incorporation of amphiphilic ruthenium complex in to the vesicles surface.