The nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) was incorporated in solid polymeric films of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and blended PVA/PVP. These matrices were found to provide a great stabilization effect on the thermal decomposition of GSNO, leading to 8-16-fold reduction in the first-order rate constants of NO release, compared to aqueous GSNO solutions. PVA/PVP-GSNO released 90% of the NO supply, over a time period of 24 h at 37 degreesC. Differential scanning calorimetry has confirmed the miscibility between the two polymeric components. Stress-strain analysis has shown an improvement of the mechanical property of PVA films in the PVA/PVP blend, which leads to an increase of 25% in the stress at break. Scanning electron microscopy has shown that the PVA/PVP-GSNO blend leads to a smooth coating of metallic surfaces. These properties, allied to the already known good biocompatibility of PVA and PVP, makes GSNO-containing PVA and PVA/PVP blend films good candidates for the local and controlled release of NO in target areas. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.251737733782