Self-Powered Medical Coatings That Generate Infection-Fighting Molecules

At a Glance

Researchers at Colorado State University have developed composite materials that generate therapeutic nitric oxide directly from naturally occurring molecules in the body. These materials use metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) embedded in polymers to create long-lasting antimicrobial surfaces. The approach allows coatings and devices to actively resist fouling and infection. It can be applied to a wide range of medical materials, including catheters and wound dressings.

Background

Metal-organic frameworks are highly tunable, porous materials that have shown promise in catalysis and biomedical applications. However, their use in real-world devices has been limited by instability, uncontrolled release of therapeutic agents, and difficulty integrating fine powders into solid materials. In medical settings, localized and sustained therapeutic action is critical for preventing infection and improving healing. Embedding MOFs into stable support offers a way to overcome these challenges while enabling new functionality.

Overview

This technology integrates MOFs into polymeric and natural materials to create composites that catalyze the continuous generation of nitric oxide (NO) from bioavailable S-nitrosothiols already present in the body. Rather than storing and releasing a finite drug payload, these materials act as catalysts, producing NO on demand at the device’s surface. Nitric oxide is known for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-thrombotic properties, making it highly valuable for medical applications.

The composites can be fabricated using common manufacturing processes such as extrusion without losing structural integrity or catalytic performance. MOFs can also be directly grown onto natural materials like cotton, maintaining their activity while enabling flexible and scalable designs. This approach avoids common issues such as uncontrolled drug release and leaching, while allowing additional therapeutic agents to be incorporated if needed, creating multifunctional medical materials.

Figure 1. CuBTTri MOF catalyst dramatically accelerates nitric oxide generation. The MOF produces therapeutic NO 10 times faster than natural breakdown, proving its effectiveness as a medical device catalyst.

Figure 2. CuBTTri catalyst maintains its structure and activity in biological environments. (a) Shows tunable NO release rates based on substrate concentration, (b) demonstrates controllable activity based on catalyst amount, and (c) proves the material remains structurally intact when exposed to blood, cell media, and body fluids – confirming it can function reliably in medical devices.

Figure 3. CuBTTri successfully integrates into medical-grade polymers while maintaining therapeutic function. (a) Shows MOF particles embedded throughout the polymer film, (b) confirms even distribution of the catalyst, and (c) demonstrates that polymer-embedded MOF produces controllable, therapeutic levels of NO – with higher catalyst concentrations delivering more treatment.

Benefits

Provides continuous, localized nitric oxide generation without needing stored drugs
Reduces biofouling and microbial growth on device surfaces
Maintains stability and performance during manufacturing and use
Compatible with synthetic and natural materials, including polymers and cellulose
Enables combination with other therapeutic agents for multifunctional devices
Flexible design options for different shapes, sizes, and material properties

Applications

Antimicrobial coatings for catheters and implantable devices
Wound dressings and bandages that promote healing
Medical device surfaces prone to contamination (e.g., IV poles, hospital equipment)
Drug-device combination products with multiple therapeutic functions
Advanced materials for infection control in clinical settings

Publications

JH Harding, et al. (2014) Tunable, Stable and Bioactive MOF for Generating a Localized Therapeutic from Endogenous Sources. Adv. Func. Mater. DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201402529

Last Updated: May 2026

Opportunity

Available for Exclusive Licensing

IP Status

US 10406512

Inventors

Melissa Reynolds
Megan Neufeld
Jacqueline Harding

Reference Number

14-099

Licensing Manager

Steve Foster
Steve.Foster@colostate.edu
970-491-7100