Characterization of folate-graft-chitosan as a scaffold for nitric oxide release

The preparation and characterization of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing chitosan–folate conjugates were reported. The secondary amine chitosan–folate conjugates exhibited a high storage capacity for NO (up to 84.3 nmol NO/mg) (when the graft rate of folate was 12.5%), greatly increasing the “payload” of released NO with the graft rate of folate increasing. The NO release durations (12 h) observed for secondary amine the chitosan–folate conjugates with the high graft rate (12.5%) were largerly shorter compared to O2-protected diazeniumliolates with BrCH2CH3 (24 h), thus illustrating a macromolecular effect on NO release kinetics.