Novel nitric-oxide releasing lipid molecules are provided which comprise a
lipid molecule selected from (a) phosphoglycerides, (b) lipids having a
sphingosine base as a backbone, (c) monoacylglyerols, (d)
diacylglycerols, (e) glycosylacylglycerols, and (f) sterol compounds of
the formula: ##STR00001## where R is a branched aliphatic chain of eight
or more carbon atoms, wherein the lipid molecule is provided with a
nitric-oxide containing group which comprises (a) a --S--N.dbd.O moiety,
(b) a --O--N.dbd.O moiety, or (c) a ##STR00002## a moiety. Also provided
are methods of forming such nitric oxide releasing lipid
molecules.Various pharmaceutical compositions, topical liquids and drug
delivery systems comprising the nitric-oxide releasing lipid molecules
are also described. Further provided are methods for therapeutically
administering nitric oxide to patients, methods of treating or preventing
various conditions, methods for promoting wound healing and methods of
reducing the cells present in an atherosclerotic lesion, which methods
utilize the nitric-oxide releasing lipid molecules.