Poly(ethylene glycol)-lysine dendrimers for targeted delivery of nitric oxide

We have synthesized dendrimers of the amino-acid lysine bound to a central poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) core, and then formed multiple diazeniumdiolate nitric oxide (NO) donors on the lysine residues. NO release from these materials occurred for up to 60 days under physiological conditions. These materials display the ability to regulate vascular cell proliferation and inhibit platelet adhesion to thrombogenic surfaces. When modified with a targeting ligand specific for inflamed endothelium (Sialyl Lewis X), we were able to demonstrate binding of fluorescently-labeled dendrimers to endothelial cells activated by interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta).