Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) was recognized as a critical signaling molecule in mammals nearly two decades ago. Since this discovery biologists and chemists have worked in concert to demonstrate the physiological roles of H₂S as well as the therapeutic benefit of exogenous H₂S delivery. As the understanding of H₂S physiology has increased, the role(s) of other sulfur-containing molecules as potential players in cellular signaling and redox homeostasis has begun to emerge. This creates new and exciting challenges for chemists to synthesize compounds that release a signaling compound in response to specific, biologically relevant stimuli. Preparation of these signaling compound donor molecules will facilitate further elucidation of the complex chemical interplay within mammalian cells. To this end we report on two systems for the sustained release of H₂S, as well as other sulfur signaling molecules. The first system discussed is based on the N-thiocarboxyanhydride (NTA) motif. NTAs were demonstrated to release carbonyl sulfide (COS), a potential sulfur signaling molecule, in response to biologically available nucleophiles. The released COS is shown to be rapidly converted to H₂S in the presence of the ubiquitous enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA). A synthetic route that affords NTAs with reactive functionalities was devised and the functional "parent" NTAs were successfully conjugated to a variety of substrates, ranging from small molecules to polymers. These functional NTAs provide a platform from which a library of NTA-based COS/H₂S may be readily prepared convergently in an effort to move towards H₂S-releasing drug and polymer conjugates. Additionally, preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity studies indicate that NTAs are noncytotoxic at concentrations above 100 µM. The second system discussed in this dissertation leverages the 1,6-benzyl elimination reaction (or self-immolative reaction) to facilitate the release of a persulfide (R–SSH) from a small molecule prodrug platform as well as a separate system that releases COS/H₂S from a polymer. The self-immolative persulfide prodrug was designed to be responsive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and demonstrates efficacy as an antioxidant in vitro. Furthermore, the polymeric COS/H₂S self-immolative system was designed to respond to reducing agents, including H₂S itself, and shows promise as a H₂S signal amplification platform. / Doctor of Philosophy / Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has long been recognized as a malodorous and toxic byproduct of industrial chemical processes. However, the discovery of H₂S as a key signaling molecule in mammals has drastically shifted the paradigm of H₂S research over the last two decades. Research into the production and roles of H₂S in the body is ongoing, but has pointed to the implication of changes in H₂S production to the onset of a variety of disease states, including cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s. As alterations in the body’s production of H₂S have been correlated to certain disease states, collaborative research efforts among biologists and chemists have demonstrated the utility of H₂S-based therapeutics in helping to alleviate these disease states. Our understanding of the roles of H₂S in the body, and potential benefits derived from H₂S-releasing drugs, can only continue to advance with the development and improvement of H₂S releasing compounds. The first portion of this dissertation focuses on the synthesis of a new class of H₂S-releasing compounds, termed N-thiocarboxyanhydrides (NTAs). NTAs release H₂S through an intermediate sulfur-containing molecule, carbonyl sulfide (COS), which may have signaling properties independent of H₂S. The COS that is released from the NTAs is rapidly converted to H₂S by the action of the ubiquitous enzyme carbonic anhydrase. A variety of functional NTAs were synthesized, which in turn were used to prepare a small library of NTA-based COS/H₂S releasing compounds. This work informs the preparation of H₂S-drug or H₂S-polymer conjugates. The second portion of this dissertation examines a class of compounds broadly termed self-immolative prodrugs. The self-immolative prodrug platform was leveraged to release H₂S, or persulfides (R–SSH), another class of sulfur-containing molecules of biological interest. The self-immolative persulfide prodrug system was designed to be responsive to reactive oxygen species (ROS), a harmful cellular byproduct. The persulfide donor was successful in mitigating the harmful effects of ROS in heart cells. Independently, a polymeric self-immolative H₂S releasing system was designed to depolymerize in the presence of H₂S, resulting in the generation of 6-8-fold excess of H₂S upon depolymerization. We envision the self-immolative H₂S-releasing polymer will show promise in biological applications where a vast excess of H₂S is needed rapidly.

H2S is a biologically relevant signaling gas that is endogenously produced throughout the body. The (patho)physiological roles of H2S have led researchers to develop various compounds that decompose to release H2S (H2S donors) for exogenous H2S administration. However, many small molecule H2S donors suffer from poor solubility, low stability, and lack of control over H2S release rates. As a result, there has been an increasing interest in utilizing supramolecular materials for exogenous H2S delivery. With growing potential applications of supramolecular H2S-releasing materials, it is important to explore their properties, e.g., solubility and stability under physiological conditions. We investigated the hydrolytic stability over a range of pH conditions of a series of peptides containing H2S-releasing S-aroylthiooximes (SATOs). The SATO-peptides showed structure–reactivity relationships with SATO ring substituents playing a crucial role in hydrolysis rates. Electron-donating substituents accelerate the rate of hydrolysis while electron-withdrawing substituents slows it down. We also explored their hydrolysis mechanisms at different pH values. SATO-peptides were then used to form hydrogels at 1 wt.% triggered by Ca2+. Hydrogels can be applied directly at a site of interest, potentially improving the efficacy of H2S compared with small molecule donors that diffuse away. We developed a H2S-releasing hydrogel capable of slowly releasing H2S locally to test its efficacy on intimal hyperplasia. The hydrogel delivered H2S over the period of several hours and inhibited the proliferation of human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) significantly better than fast-releasing NaSH salts. This study shows a promising application of supramolecular H2S-releasing materials over widely used sulfide salts. The macroscopic properties of peptide hydrogels could be further modulated to achieve additional control over the H2S release properties. We synthesized a series of peptide hydrogels incorporating different linker segments to study their effects on hydrogelation properties. Most peptides formed hydrogels but with significantly different rheological behavior. We found that peptides with flexible linkers such as ethyl, substituted O-methylene, and others, formed stronger hydrogels compared to those with more rigid linkers. Interestingly, we found that stiffer hydrogels released H2S over longer periods than softer ones by retarding the diffusion of a thiol trigger, likely due to bulk degradation of the soft gels but surface erosion of the stiff gels as they release H2S. / Doctor of Philosophy / H2S has long been known as a foul smelling gas until it was discovered that it is endogenously produced throughout the body and plays many (patho)physiological roles. Therapeutic benefits of H2S have led researchers to develop various compounds that release H2S (H2S donors) for exogenous H2S administration. However, many small molecule H2S donors suffer from poor solubility, low stability, and unregulated H2S release. As a result, there has been an increasing interest in utilizing materials for exogenous H2S delivery. With growing potential applications of H2S-releasing materials, it is important to explore their properties, e.g., solubility and stability under physiological conditions. We investigated the stability of a series of peptides containing H2S-releasing S-aroylthiooximes (SATOs) over a range of pH conditions. The stability of SATO-peptides was dependent on chemical makeup of the SATO part of the peptides. We also explored their hydrolysis mechanisms at different pH values. SATO-peptides were then used to form hydrogels triggered by Ca2+. Hydrogels can be applied directly at a site of interest, potentially improving the efficacy of H2S compared with small molecule donors that diffuse away. We developed a H2S-releasing hydrogel capable of slowly releasing H2S locally to test its efficacy on intimal hyperplasia. The hydrogel delivered H2S over the period of several hours and inhibited the proliferation of human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) significantly better than fast-releasing NaSH salts. This study shows a promising application of supramolecular H2S-releasing materials over widely used sulfide salts. The macroscopic properties of peptide hydrogels could be further modulated to achieve additional control over the H2S release properties. We synthesized a series of peptide hydrogels incorporating different linker segments to study their effects on hydrogelation properties. Most peptides formed weak to strong hydrogels with calcium chloride.We found that peptides with flexible linkers formed stronger hydrogels compared to those with more rigid linkers. Interestingly, we found that stiffer hydrogels released H2S over longer periods than softer ones.