Nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside serves as a source of iron supporting <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> growth and biofilm formation

Research into biofilm dispersal agent nitric oxide (NO) holds promise for treating biofilm-associated infections. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO donor widely used in antibiofilm research, has been shown in this study to enhance cell growth and biofilm formation in <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> by acting as a source of iron. Our results suggest that SNP functions both as an NO and an iron donor, with its iron-releasing properties playing a more dominant role in promoting biofilm growth in closed culture systems. This study underscores the dual but conflicting roles of SNP in biofilm growth, which caution its future development as an NO-based therapeutic strategy for biofilm-associated infections.