journal article·2026-04Open access

Therapeutic Gases in Biomedicine: Updates on Nitric Oxide and Beyond

Syed Muntazir Andrabi, Navatha Shree Sharma, Imran Ibn Gani Rather, S. M. Shatil Shahriar, Jingwei Xie

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 23

Abstract

ABSTRACT Gaseous mediators are increasingly recognized as critical regulators of human physiology and pathology, offering unique therapeutic opportunities that are fundamentally constrained by challenges in controlled delivery, spatial targeting, and biological specificity when harnessed through advanced delivery technologies. Among them, nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a central player. Recent advancements have transitioned from conventional donor‐based systems with limited control over dose and localization to wearable gas‐delivery platforms capable of real‐time, patient‐specific dosing and frequently coupling with embedded diagnostic functionalities for dynamic feedback and precision control. Importantly, the therapeutic scope of gas biology is expanding beyond NO to encompass other clinically relevant and emerging gases, including O 2 , CO, H 2 S, H 2 , CO 2 , SO 2 , and Xe. These gases exhibit multifaceted biological effects ranging from cytoprotection and vasoregulation to antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory actions, thereby necessitating innovative material‐based and bioresponsive delivery strategies that can interface dynamically with biological systems. By critically assessing progress in material platforms, responsive release mechanisms, and multimodal delivery approaches, this review bridges fundamental gas biology with clinically translatable therapeutic design. We further highlight persistent translational bottlenecks, such as dose control, off‐target effects, and long‐term safety, while outlining emerging research pathways poised to define the next era of gas‐based medicine.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics · Hemoglobin structure and function · Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Surgery‐Transplant and Mary and Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha Nebraska USA

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering University of Nebraska Lincoln Lincoln Nebraska USA

Funding

National Institute of General Medical Sciences · National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research · Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs · University of Nebraska Medical Center

References (100+)

Show source-provided references
1. 10.1016/j.mtchem.2024.10196410.1016/j.mtchem.2024.101964 ↗
2. 10.1016/j.acthis.2008.11.00410.1016/j.acthis.2008.11.004 ↗
3. 10.1002/ame2.1240010.1002/ame2.12400 ↗
4. 10.1021/acsnano.3c0230310.1021/acsnano.3c02303 ↗
5. 10.1002/smtd.20230134910.1002/smtd.202301349 ↗
6. 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.11759510.1016/j.biopha.2024.117595 ↗
7. 10.3389/fphys.2024.141503710.3389/fphys.2024.1415037 ↗
8. 10.1093/nsr/nwaa03410.1093/nsr/nwaa034 ↗
9. 10.7150/thno.9888410.7150/thno.98884 ↗
10. 10.1002/adma.20180196410.1002/adma.201801964 ↗
11. 10.1002/advs.20230325910.1002/advs.202303259 ↗
12. 10.1021/jacs.8b0551410.1021/jacs.8b05514 ↗
13. 10.1039/C8CS00457A10.1039/C8CS00457A ↗
14. 10.1021/acsnano.4c1426110.1021/acsnano.4c14261 ↗
15. 10.1038/s41467-022-35709-010.1038/s41467-022-35709-0 ↗
16. 10.1021/acsami.4c1347810.1021/acsami.4c13478 ↗
17. 10.1021/acsnano.2c0537910.1021/acsnano.2c05379 ↗
18. 10.1021/ja210771m10.1021/ja210771m ↗
19. 10.1002/smll.20190763510.1002/smll.201907635 ↗
20. 10.1002/smll.20210576210.1002/smll.202105762 ↗
21. 10.1021/acsnano.4c1011810.1021/acsnano.4c10118 ↗
22. 10.1002/smll.20190674410.1002/smll.201906744 ↗
23. 10.1021/acsnano.0c0362910.1021/acsnano.0c03629 ↗
24. 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c0179810.1021/acs.biomac.4c01798 ↗
25. 10.1021/acsabm.9b0023710.1021/acsabm.9b00237 ↗
26. 10.1002/admi.20170148710.1002/admi.201701487 ↗
27. 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.03.03610.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.03.036 ↗
28. 10.1126/sciadv.adp593510.1126/sciadv.adp5935 ↗
29. 10.1021/acsami.6b1035710.1021/acsami.6b10357 ↗
30. 10.1021/acsabm.4c0116910.1021/acsabm.4c01169 ↗
31. 10.1016/j.mtchem.2021.10074310.1016/j.mtchem.2021.100743 ↗
32. 10.1016/j.msec.2021.11242810.1016/j.msec.2021.112428 ↗
33. 10.1002/jbm.a.3665710.1002/jbm.a.36657 ↗
34. 10.1002/smll.20130108710.1002/smll.201301087 ↗
35. 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.12422110.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124221 ↗
36. 10.1002/adma.20230496310.1002/adma.202304963 ↗
37. 10.1126/sciadv.adg347810.1126/sciadv.adg3478 ↗
38. 10.1021/acsnano.1c0317710.1021/acsnano.1c03177 ↗
39. 10.7554/eLife.8482010.7554/eLife.84820 ↗
40. 10.1038/s41467-018-03233-910.1038/s41467-018-03233-9 ↗
41. 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.12.03010.1016/j.jconrel.2022.12.030 ↗
42. 10.7150/thno.11374110.7150/thno.113741 ↗
43. 10.1002/smll.20220726110.1002/smll.202207261 ↗
44. 10.1016/j.mtchem.2023.10144510.1016/j.mtchem.2023.101445 ↗
45. 10.3164/jcbn.15-10010.3164/jcbn.15-100 ↗
46. 10.1038/8668410.1038/86684 ↗
47. 10.1186/s12951-024-02878-710.1186/s12951-024-02878-7 ↗
48. 10.1016/bs.mie.2020.05.00310.1016/bs.mie.2020.05.003 ↗
49. 10.1016/j.ccr.2024.21592110.1016/j.ccr.2024.215921 ↗
50. 10.1021/ja057977u10.1021/ja057977u ↗
51. 10.1039/D2DT02553A10.1039/D2DT02553A ↗
52. 10.1038/s41467-019-08670-810.1038/s41467-019-08670-8 ↗
53. 10.1016/j.cej.2024.15420510.1016/j.cej.2024.154205 ↗
54. 10.34133/bmr.015510.34133/bmr.0155 ↗
55. 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c0312010.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03120 ↗
56. 10.1016/j.jpap.2024.10025010.1016/j.jpap.2024.100250 ↗
57. 10.1002/agt2.7000710.1002/agt2.70007 ↗
58. 10.1002/jbm.a.3795210.1002/jbm.a.37952 ↗
59. 10.1002/adhm.20240422110.1002/adhm.202404221 ↗
60. 10.1002/adfm.20241892810.1002/adfm.202418928 ↗
61. 10.1016/j.cej.2021.13285810.1016/j.cej.2021.132858 ↗
62. 10.1038/s41573-024-00914-710.1038/s41573-024-00914-7 ↗
63. 10.1038/s41557-021-00711-410.1038/s41557-021-00711-4 ↗
64. 10.1039/C7NR08176F10.1039/C7NR08176F ↗
65. 10.1021/acsami.3c0416710.1021/acsami.3c04167 ↗
66. 10.1002/advs.20210193510.1002/advs.202101935 ↗
67. 10.1002/adhm.20170038510.1002/adhm.201700385 ↗
68. 10.1002/advs.20230499410.1002/advs.202304994 ↗
69. 10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.05.28310.1016/j.jconrel.2015.05.283 ↗
70. 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.06.01610.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.06.016 ↗
71. 10.1021/acsami.8b0165810.1021/acsami.8b01658 ↗
72. 10.1038/s41589-018-0190-510.1038/s41589-018-0190-5 ↗
73. 10.1002/adhm.20240159910.1002/adhm.202401599 ↗
74. 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.02.01210.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.02.012 ↗
75. 10.1126/science.123044410.1126/science.1230444 ↗
76. 10.1002/gch2.20230024410.1002/gch2.202300244 ↗
77. 10.1021/acs.iecr.4c0369810.1021/acs.iecr.4c03698 ↗
78. 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2017.07.00710.1016/j.mtcomm.2017.07.007 ↗
79. 10.1016/j.apmt.2020.10088710.1016/j.apmt.2020.100887 ↗
80. 10.1021/acsami.0c0179210.1021/acsami.0c01792 ↗
81. 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.05.01510.1016/j.actbio.2024.05.015 ↗
82. 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.21326810.1016/j.bioadv.2022.213268 ↗
83. 10.1021/acsami.3c1128310.1021/acsami.3c11283 ↗
84. 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c0512510.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c05125 ↗
85. 10.1126/science.118176110.1126/science.1181761 ↗
86. 10.1021/ic500434a10.1021/ic500434a ↗
87. 10.1016/j.niox.2024.04.00310.1016/j.niox.2024.04.003 ↗
88. 10.1016/j.rsurfi.2025.10052910.1016/j.rsurfi.2025.100529 ↗
89. Doorn H. R. · 2020 · 284
90. 10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00176-210.1016/S1473-3099(24)00176-2 ↗
91. 10.3390/pathogens1310090910.3390/pathogens13100909 ↗
92. 10.1503/cmaj.20174810.1503/cmaj.201748 ↗
93. 10.1016/j.gene.2024.14814810.1016/j.gene.2024.148148 ↗
94. 10.1016/S1074-7613(00)80003-510.1016/S1074-7613(00)80003-5 ↗
95. 10.1152/physrev.00029.200610.1152/physrev.00029.2006 ↗
96. 10.1038/s41589-022-01149-610.1038/s41589-022-01149-6 ↗
97. 10.3390/ijms1912380510.3390/ijms19123805 ↗
98. 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.10.03210.1016/j.canlet.2017.10.032 ↗
99. 10.1016/j.cell.2022.06.01010.1016/j.cell.2022.06.010 ↗
100. 10.1007/978-3-319-54090-0_810.1007/978-3-319-54090-0_8 ↗