Portable, low-cost nitric oxide generators for lungs and catheters
Optimization of Cu(II)-ligand catalysts, membrane materials, and coatings for O2-tolerant, portable, and low-cost electrochemical nitric oxide generation devices/catheters
Developing a low-cost, portable way to make medicinal nitric oxide gas to help people with severe lung problems, chronic airway infections, or those with catheters or on extracorporeal support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324221 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is building a small, cheaper device that uses electrochemistry and copper-based catalyst chemistry to turn nitrite into high-purity nitric oxide gas and will test oxygen-tolerant membranes and coatings so it works in real clinical settings. The team plans to adapt the system for inhaled use, for adding NO to extracorporeal circulation, and for releasing NO from catheter surfaces to reduce infection and clotting. Work includes laboratory chemistry, membrane and coating development, engineering of portable devices, and preclinical testing including animal models before any human use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who might benefit include patients with lung failure or pulmonary hypertension needing inhaled nitric oxide, people with chronic airway infections (for example cystic fibrosis or chronic sinusitis), and patients who require extracorporeal support or long-term intravascular catheters.
Not a fit: People without respiratory or catheter-related conditions, or those with known contraindications to nitric oxide, are unlikely to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make nitric oxide therapy and NO-releasing catheters more affordable, portable, and widely available to prevent or treat lung infections, reduce clotting, and lower catheter-related infections.
How similar studies have performed: Inhaled nitric oxide is an established therapy for certain lung conditions and prior studies of NO-releasing catheter materials have reduced infection or clotting risk, but the portable electrochemical gas-generation approach is new and less tested clinically.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lehnert, Nicolai — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Lehnert, Nicolai
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.