Materials use nitric oxide to kill bacteria

Bacteria that grow on implanted medical devices can wreak havoc. Now, a novel coating may offer a new way to fend off microbial buildup on catheters, artificial hips, and replacement cardiac valves.

Recently, chemists have been creating materials that emit nitric oxide (NO), an antibacterial chemical that the body produces. Much of the research has focused on using polymers containing NO-releasing chemical groups called diazeniumdiolates to prevent blood clotting.