Nitric oxide generating systems

1 . A nitric oxide (NO) generating system, comprising:

an NO generating formulation, including:

an S-nitrosothiol (RSNO) powder present in an amount ranging from about 3 wt % to about 12 wt % of the NO generating formulation;

a hydrophilic binder present in an amount ranging from about 15 wt % to about 82 wt % of the NO generating formulation;

a lubricant present in an amount ranging from about 1 wt % to about 15 wt % of the NO generating formulation; and

an additive present in an amount ranging from about 3 wt % to about 60 wt % of the NO generating formulation;

wherein the additive is to control a rate of release of NO from the NO donor/adduct after the formulation is exposed to an effective amount of water, water vapor, or blue or ultraviolet (UV) light; and

an inhalation device in operative contact with the NO generating formulation.

2 . The NO generating system as defined in claim 1 wherein the lubricant is a surfactant selected from the group consisting of sodium stearate, zinc stearate, magnesium stearate, sodium laurate, zinc laurate, sodium palmitate, zinc palmitate, ascorbyl palmitate, and combinations thereof.

3 . The NO generating system as defined in claim 1 wherein the NO generating formulation comprises a single solid.

4 . A nitric oxide (NO) generating system, comprising:

a moisture activated NO generating formulation, including:

a stable NO donor/adduct;

a hydrophilic binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate (PVA), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), polyacrylamide, acetates, polyethylene oxide (PEO), poly ethyl acrylate (PEA), polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl pyrrolidone-vinyl acetate (PVP-VA), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), microcrystalline cellulose, corn starch, and combinations thereof; and

an additive;

wherein the additive is to control a rate of release of NO from the NO donor/adduct after the formulation is exposed to water vapor; and

an inhalation device in operative contact with the moisture activated NO generating formulation, wherein the inhalation device is a face mask including a housing to hold the moisture activated NO generating formulation; and wherein:

the moisture activated NO generating formulation is a single solid;

the housing includes a door; and

one of:

the single solid is to be snapped in place in the door; or

the single solid is to be slid into a receptacle defined in the door.

5 . The NO generating system as defined in claim 4 , wherein the moisture activated NO generating formulation is capable of releasing NO gas molecules when exposed to about 40% relative humidity to 100% relative humidity.

6 . A nitric oxide (NO) generating system, comprising:

a moisture activated NO generating formulation, including:

a stable NO donor/adduct;

a hydrophilic binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate (PVA), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), polyacrylamide, acetates, polyethylene oxide (PEO), poly ethyl acrylate (PEA), polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl pyrrolidone-vinyl acetate (PVP-VA), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), microcrystalline cellulose, corn starch, and combinations thereof; and

an additive;

wherein the additive is to control a rate of release of NO from the NO donor/adduct after the formulation is exposed to water vapor; and

an inhalation device in operative contact with the moisture activated NO generating formulation;

wherein the additive is ascorbyl palmitate, and the ascorbyl palmitate is present in an amount ranging from about 3 wt % to about 60 wt % of the moisture activated NO generating formulation.

7 . The NO generating system as defined in claim 6 wherein the moisture activated NO generating formulation further includes an inert material selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride, microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide, and combinations thereof.

8 . The NO generating system as defined in claim 7 wherein the inert material is present in an amount ranging from greater than about 0 wt % to about 50 wt % of the moisture activated NO generating formulation.

9 . The NO generating system as defined in claim 6 wherein a ratio (mol/mol) of the NO donor/adduct to the additive ranges from 1:0.5 to 1:10.