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Review
. 2024 Oct 1:151:17-30.
doi: 10.1016/j.niox.2024.08.002. Epub 2024 Aug 22.

NO- and H2S- releasing nanomaterials: A crosstalk signaling pathway in cancer

Roberta Albino Dos Reis  1 , Ishani Sarkar  2 , Maiara Gonçalves Rodrigues  1 , John B Matson  3 , Amedea Barozzi Seabra  1 , Khosrow Kashfi  4
Affiliations
Review

NO- and H2S- releasing nanomaterials: A crosstalk signaling pathway in cancer

Roberta Albino Dos Reis et al. Nitric Oxide. .

Abstract

The gasotransmitters nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) play important roles not only in maintaining physiological functions, but also in pathological conditions and events. Importantly, these molecules show a complex interplay in cancer biology, demonstrating both tumor-promoting and anti-tumor activities depending on their concentration, flux, and the environmental redox state. Additionally, various cell types respond differently to NO and H2S. These gasotransmitters can be synergistically combined with traditional anticancer treatments such as radiotherapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and phototherapy. Notably, NO, and more recently H2S, have been shown to reverse multidrug resistance. Nanomaterials to deliver NO donors and, to a lesser extent, H2S donors, have emerged as a promising approach for targeted delivery of these gasotransmitters. Nanotechnology has advanced the delivery of anticancer drugs, enhancing efficiency and reducing side effects on non-cancerous cells. This review highlights recent progress in the design of NO and H2S-releasing nanomaterials for anticancer effects. It also explores the interactions between NO and H2S, which are crucial for developing combined therapies and nanomedicines with minimal side effects.

Keywords: Cancer cells; Drug delivery; Hydrogen sulfide; Nanomaterials; Nitric oxide; Toxicity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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