Conversion of nitrogen dioxide (NO
View Patent ↗Inhalation of low levels of nitric oxide can rapidly and safely decrease pulmonary hypertension in mammals. A nitric oxide delivery system that converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid.
1. A method for delivering nitric oxide to a subject comprising:
introducing a nitric-oxide releasing agent into a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet and a porous support coated with a reducing agent, wherein the reducing agent is selected from a group consisting of ascorbic acid, alpha tocopherol or gamma tocopherol, and wherein the nitric-oxide releasing agent includes nitrogen dioxide;
converting the nitrogen dioxide in the nitric-oxide releasing agent to nitric oxide gas by contacting the nitrogen dioxide with the reducing agent; and
delivering the nitric oxide gas to the subject in a gas flow.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nitric-oxide releasing agent is nitrogen dioxide gas.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the porous support comprises a substrate that retains water.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the porous support is a porous hydrophilic polymer.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the porous support comprises a silica gel.
6. A method for delivering nitric oxide to a subject comprising:
introducing a nitric-oxide releasing agent in an air flow into a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet and a porous support coated with a reducing agent, wherein the reducing agent is selected from a group consisting of ascorbic acid, alpha tocopherol or gamma tocopherol, and wherein the nitric-oxide releasing agent includes nitrogen dioxide;
converting the nitrogen dioxide in the nitric-oxide releasing agent to nitric oxide gas in the air flow by contacting the nitrogen dioxide with the reducing agent; and
delivering the nitric oxide gas to the subject in a gas flow including the air flow.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the nitric-oxide releasing agent is nitrogen dioxide gas.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the porous support comprises a substrate that retains water.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the porous support is a porous hydrophilic polymer.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the porous support comprises a silica gel.