Oral delivery of anti-TNF antibody shielded by natural polyphenol-mediated supramolecular assembly for inflammatory bowel disease therapy

Lipid- and polymer-based formulations containing TNF-α inhibitors for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases

Monoclonal antibodies inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (iTNF-α) have revolutionized the therapeutic regimen of inflammatory bowel disease, but their main drawback is the parenteral route of administration they require. An alternative approach lies in the delivery of these molecules to the area involved in the inflammatory process by means of innovative formulations able to promote their localization in affected tissues while also decreasing the number of administrations required. This review describes the advantages deriving from the use of lipid- and polymer-based systems containing iTNF-α, focusing on their physicochemical and technological properties and discussing the preclinical results obtained in vivo using rodent models of colitis.

Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, non-specific inflammatory condition characterized by recurring inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. However, the existing IBD treatments are ineffective and have serious side effects. The etiology of IBD is multifactorial and encompasses immune, genetic, environmental, dietary, and microbial factors. The nanoparticles (NPs) developed based on specific targeting methodologies exhibit great potential as nanotechnology advances. Nanoparticles are defined as particles between 1 and 100 nm in size. Depending on their size and surface functionality, NPs exhibit different properties. A variety of nanoparticle types have been employed as drug carriers for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with encouraging outcomes observed in experimental models. They increase the bioavailability of drugs and enable targeted drug delivery, promoting localized treatment and thus enhancing efficacy. Nevertheless, numerous challenges persist in the translation from nanomedicine to clinical application, including enhanced formulations and preparation techniques, enhanced drug safety profiles, and so forth. In the future, it will be necessary for scientists and clinicians to collaborate in order to study disease mechanisms, develop new drug delivery strategies, and screen new nanomedicines. Nevertheless, numerous challenges persist in the translation from nanomedicine to clinical application, including enhanced formulations and preparation techniques, enhanced drug safety profiles, and so forth. In the future, it will be necessary for scientists and clinicians to collaborate in order to study disease mechanisms, develop new drug delivery strategies, and screen new nanomedicines.

Eudragit S100 coated iron oxide-chitosan nanocomposites for colon targeting of 5-aminosalicylic acid ameliorate ulcerative colitis by improving intestinal barrier function and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome

The therapeutic effect of 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA), a first-line therapeutic agent for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), is limited by the modest bioavailability afforded by its oral administration. In this study, a 5-ASA oral delivery system was developed using Eudragit S100-coated iron oxide-chitosan nanocomposites (ES-IOCS/5-ASA) to address this issue. According to drug release studies in vitro, ES-IOCS/5-ASA only released a small amount of drug in simulated gastric fluid with a pH of 1.2. However, in a medium with a pH of 7.5, a relatively rapid and complete release was noted. 5-ASA-loaded iron oxide-chitosan nanocomposites (IOCS/5-ASA) could be effectively taken up by NCM460 cells and performed better anti-inflammatory effects than free 5-ASA. At the same time, IOCS/5-ASA improved barrier damage in DSS-induced NCM460 cells. In vivo models of dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis were used to assess the therapeutic efficacy of oral administration of ES-IOCS/5-ASA. ES-IOCS/5-ASA significantly relieved DSS-induced colitis and enhanced the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier. ES-IOCS/5-ASA also reduced the expression of NLRP3, ASC and IL-1β. Additionally, iron oxide nanoparticles used as nanozymes could alleviate inflammation. In summary, this study indicates that ES-IOCS/5-ASA exert anti-inflammatory effects on DSS-induced colitis by improving intestinal barrier function and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome expression, presenting a viable therapeutic choice for the treatment of UC.

Peptide-Based Hydrogel for Nanosystems Encapsulation: the Next Generation of Localized Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Intestinal Inflammations

Conventional therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases are mainly based on systemic treatments which cause side effects and toxicity over long-term administration. Nanoparticles appear as a valid alternative to allow a preferential accumulation in inflamed tissues following oral administration while reducing systemic drug exposure. To increase their residence time in the inflamed intestine, the nanoparticles are here associated with a hydrogel matrix. A bioadhesive peptide-based hydrogel is mixed with nanoemulsions, creating a hybrid lipid-polymer nanocomposite. Mucopenetrating nanoemulsions of 100 nm are embedded in a scaffold constituted of the self-assembling peptide hydrogel product PuraStat. The nanocomposite is fully characterized to study the impact of lipid particles in the hydrogel structure. Rheological measurements and circular dichroism analyses are performed to investigate the system's microstructure and physical properties. Biodistribution studies demonstrate that the nanocomposite acts as a depot in the stomach and facilitates the slow release of the nanoemulsions in the intestine. Efficacy studies upon oral administration of the drug-loaded system show the improvement of the disease score in a mouse model of intestinal inflammation.

Targeted protein delivery based on stimuli-triggered nanomedicine

Protein-based drugs have shown unique advantages to treat various diseases in recent years. However, most protein therapeutics in clinical use are limited to extracellular targets with low delivery efficiency. To realize targeted protein delivery, a series of stimuli-triggered nanoparticle formulations have been developed to improve delivery efficiency and reduce off-target release. These smart nanoparticles are designed to release cargo proteins in response to either internal or external stimuli at pathological tissues. In this way, varieties of protein-based drugs including antibodies, enzymes, and pro-apoptotic proteins can be effectively delivered to desired sites for the treatment of cancer, inflammation, metabolic diseases, and so on with minimal side effects. In this review, recent advances in the design of stimuli-triggered nanomedicine for targeted protein delivery in different biomedical applications will be discussed. A deeper understanding of these emerging strategies helps develop more efficient protein delivery systems for clinical use in the future.

Nanotechnology's frontier in combatting infectious and inflammatory diseases: prevention and treatment

Inflammation-associated diseases encompass a range of infectious diseases and non-infectious inflammatory diseases, which continuously pose one of the most serious threats to human health, attributed to factors such as the emergence of new pathogens, increasing drug resistance, changes in living environments and lifestyles, and the aging population. Despite rapid advancements in mechanistic research and drug development for these diseases, current treatments often have limited efficacy and notable side effects, necessitating the development of more effective and targeted anti-inflammatory therapies. In recent years, the rapid development of nanotechnology has provided crucial technological support for the prevention, treatment, and detection of inflammation-associated diseases. Various types of nanoparticles (NPs) play significant roles, serving as vaccine vehicles to enhance immunogenicity and as drug carriers to improve targeting and bioavailability. NPs can also directly combat pathogens and inflammation. In addition, nanotechnology has facilitated the development of biosensors for pathogen detection and imaging techniques for inflammatory diseases. This review categorizes and characterizes different types of NPs, summarizes their applications in the prevention, treatment, and detection of infectious and inflammatory diseases. It also discusses the challenges associated with clinical translation in this field and explores the latest developments and prospects. In conclusion, nanotechnology opens up new possibilities for the comprehensive management of infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Natural polyphenols for drug delivery and tissue engineering construction: A review

Polyphenols, natural compounds rich in phenolic structures, are gaining prominence due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anticancer properties, making them valuable in biomedical applications. Through covalent and noncovalent interactions, polyphenols can bind to biomaterials, enhancing their performance and compensating for their shortcomings. Such polyphenol-based biomaterials not only increase the efficacy of polyphenols but also improve drug stability, control release kinetics, and boost the therapeutic effects of drugs. They offer the potential for targeted drug delivery, reducing off-target impacts and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. In tissue engineering, polyphenols promote cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, thus aiding in the formation of functional tissues. Additionally, they offer excellent biocompatibility and mechanical strength, essential in designing scaffolds. This review explores the significant roles of polyphenols in tissue engineering and drug delivery, emphasizing their potential in advancing biomedical research and healthcare.

Recent Progress in Protein-Polyphenol Assemblies for Biomedical Applications

Nowadays, natural materials as smart building blocks for assembling functional materials have aroused extensive interest in the scientific community. Proteins and polyphenols are typical natural building blocks that are widely used. On the one hand, proteins are one of the most versatile classes of biomolecules, serving as catalysts, signaling molecules, transporters, receptors, scaffolds that maintain the integrity of cell and tissue, and more. On the other hand, the facile adhesion of naturally abundant polyphenols with other substances and their potential biomedical applications have been highly attractive for functional biomaterials fabrication. Additionally, there are a variety of interactions between the proteins and polyphenols, mainly hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic, and ionic interactions. These reversible dynamic interactions enable proteins and polyphenols to form stable protein-polyphenol assemblies and maintain their inherent structures and biological activities in the assemblies. Therefore, protein-polyphenol assemblies can be applied to design a variety of advanced functional materials for biomedical applications. Herein, recent progress in protein-polyphenol particles, capsules, coatings, and hydrogels is summarized, the preparation and application of these assemblies are introduced in detail, and the future of the field is prospected.

An efficient co-delivery system based on multilayer structural nanoparticles for programmed sequential release of resveratrol and vitamin D3 to combat dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice

Multilayer structural nanoparticles (MSNPs) fabricated by layer-by-layer self-assembly were used for the co-encapsulation of resveratrol (Res) and vitamin D3 (Vd). Res and Vd co-encapsulated MSNPs (Res-Vd-MSNPs) were evaluated by appearance, morphology, particle size, ζ potential and encapsulation efficiency (EE). The results showed that Res-Vd-MSNPs were spherical in shape with a particle size of 625.4 nm and a surface charge of +26.1 mV. The EE of Res and Vd was as high as 93.6 % and 90.8 %, respectively. Res-Vd-MSNPs exhibited better stability and lower degradation rate in simulated gastric fluid, allowing the programmed sequential release of Vd and Res in simulated intestinal fluid and simulated colonic fluid, which was also confirmed by in vivo fluorescence imaging of mice. In addition, Res-Vd-MSNPs effectively alleviated the clinical symptoms of dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, including weight loss, diarrhea and fecal bleeding, and it especially exerted a preventive effect on DSS-induced colon tissue damage and colon shortening. Furthermore, Res-Vd-MSNPs suppressed the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and ameliorated DSS-induced oxidative damage, decreased colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide (NO) activities and elevated glutathione (GSH) level in DSS-treated mice. This study illustrated that MSNPs were potential carriers for developing the co-delivery system for the synergistic prevention and treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Rectal delivery of 89Zr-labeled infliximab-loaded nanoparticles enables PET imaging-guided localized therapy of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis involve chronic gastrointestinal inflammation. The pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) drives IBD pathogenesis. Anti-TNF-α therapies using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) like infliximab (INF) help treat IBD but have limitations. We developed inflammation-targeting polyphenol-poloxamer nanoparticles loaded with the anti-inflammatory mAb INF (INF@PPNP) as a novel IBD therapy. Characterization showed that INF@PPNP had favorable stability and purity. Radiolabeling INF@PPNP with 89Zr enabled tracking localization with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Rectal administration of 89Zr-INF@PPNP led to colon delivery with remarkably reduced systemic exposure versus intravenous INF revealed by non-invasive PET imaging. 89Zr-INF@PPNP retention at inflamed foci indicated prolonged INF@PPNP action. INF@PPNP rectally achieved similar anti-inflammatory effects as intravenously injected INF, demonstrating the high therapeutic potential. Our findings support the use of nanoparticle-based rectal administration for localized drug delivery, prolonging drug activity and minimizing systemic exposure, ultimately offering an effective approach for treating IBD.

Emerging drug delivery systems with traditional routes - A roadmap to chronic inflammatory diseases

Inflammation is prevalent and inevitable in daily life but can generally be accommodated by the immune systems. However, incapable self-healing and persistent inflammation can progress to chronic inflammation, leading to prevalent or fatal chronic diseases. This review comprehensively covers the topic of emerging drug delivery systems (DDSs) for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs). First, we introduce the basic biology of the chronic inflammatory process and provide an overview of the main CIDs of the major organs. Next, up-to-date information on various DDSs and the associated strategies for ensuring targeted delivery and stimuli-responsiveness applied to CIDs are discussed extensively. The implementation of traditional routes of drug administration to maximize their therapeutic effects against CIDs is then summarized. Finally, perspectives on future DDSs against CIDs are presented.

Multifunctional Polymer Vesicles for Synergistic Antibiotic-Antioxidant Treatment of Bacterial Keratitis

As an acute ophthalmic infection, bacterial keratitis (BK) can lead to severe visual morbidity, such as corneal perforation, intraocular infection, and permanent corneal opacity, if rapid and effective treatments are not available. In addition to eradicating pathogenic bacteria, protecting corneal tissue from oxidative damage and promoting wound healing by relieving inflammation are equally critical for the efficient treatment of BK. Besides, it is very necessary to improve the bioavailability of drugs by enhancing the ocular surface adhesion and corneal permeability. In this investigation, therefore, a synergistic antibiotic-antioxidant treatment of BK was achieved based on multifunctional block copolymer vesicles, within which ciprofloxacin (CIP) was simultaneously encapsulated during the self-assembly. Due to the phenylboronic acid residues in the corona layer, these vesicles exhibited enhanced muco-adhesion, deep corneal epithelial penetration, and bacteria-targeting, which facilitated the drug delivery to corneal bacterial infection sites. Additionally, the abundant thioether moieties in the hydrophobic membrane enabled the vesicles to both have ROS-scavenging capacity and accelerated CIP release at the inflammatory corneal tissue. In vivo experiments on a mice model demonstrated that the multifunctional polymer vesicles achieved efficient treatment of BK, owing to the enhanced corneal adhesion and penetration, bacteria targeting, ROS-triggered CIP release, and the combined antioxidant-antibiotic therapy. This synergistic strategy holds great potential in the treatment of BK and other diseases associated with bacterial infections.

Recent advances on emerging nanomaterials for diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disorder that affects the entire gastrointestinal tract and is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Mainstream clinical testing methods are time-consuming, painful for patients, and insufficiently sensitive to detect early symptoms. Currently, there is no definitive cure for IBD, and frequent doses of medications with potentially severe side effects may affect patient response. In recent years, nanomaterials have demonstrated considerable potential for IBD management due to their diverse structures, composition, and physical and chemical properties. In this review, we provide an overview of the advances in nanomaterial-based diagnosis and treatment of IBD in recent five years. Multi-functional bio-nano platforms, including contrast agents, near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes, and bioactive substance detection agents have been developed for IBD diagnosis. Based on a series of pathogenic characteristics of IBD, the therapeutic strategies of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and intestinal microbiome regulation of IBD based on nanomaterials are systematically introduced. Finally, the future challenges and prospects in this field are presented to facilitate the development of diagnosis and treatment of IBD.

Oral colon-targeted responsive alginate/hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel propels the application of infliximab in colitis

Currently, commercialized infliximab (IFX) has rapidly propelled the clinical treatment of IBD, however, its inherent attributes, such as off-target effects and rapid metabolism, severely limit practical applications. Moreover, high doses injection of IFX can result in IBD treatment failure, which may induce other side effects. In this study, an colon microenvironment-responsive hydrogel (AL/HA hydrogel), consisting of acid-resistant sodium alginate and colon-degraded and targeted hyaluronic acid, was constructed by simple Ca2+/Zn2+ cross-linking. The ion-mediated hydrogel exhibited the protective effect of gastrointestinal tract to avoid early drug leakage, while the inflammation environments showed well-controlled drug release and significant biodegradable behaviors. Additionally, oral hydrogel exhibited long-standing enteritis areas compared with normal mice. Therefore, hydrogel-assisted enteritis treatment has great potential in IBD as an oral agent. After that, IFX was packaged in hydrogel to fabricate a facile oral antibody delivery system to treat IBD. IFX-embedded hydrogel showed remarkable therapeutic effect on IBD compared with free IFX. Surprisingly, oral hydrogel below 7 times IFX achieve the same amount of IFX-infused treatment that will further help alleviate the drawbacks of IFX. Our work elaborated on the efficacy of oral AL/HA@IFX in IBD, providing a guarantee for the future of promoted clinical transformation.

Self-Assembled Polymers for Gastrointestinal Tract Targeted Delivery through the Oral Route: An Update

Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) targeted drug delivery systems have gained growing attention as potential carriers for the treatment of different diseases, especially local colonic diseases. They have lower side effects as well as enhanced oral delivery efficiency because of various therapeutics that are vulnerable to acidic and enzymatic degradation in the upper GIT are protected. The novel and unique design of self-assembled nanostructures, such as micelles, hydrogels, and liposomes, which can both respond to external stimuli and be further modified, making them ideal for specific, targeted medical needs and localized drug delivery treatments through the oral route. Therefore, the aim of this review was to summarize and critically discuss the pharmaceutical significance and therapeutic feasibility of a wide range of natural and synthetic biomaterials for efficient drug targeting to GIT using the self-assembly method. Among various types of biomaterials, natural and synthetic polymer-based nanostructures have shown promising targeting potential due to their innate pH responsiveness, sustained and controlled release characteristics, and microbial degradation in the GIT that releases the encapsulated drug moieties.

Capsulated Cellular Nanosponges for the Treatment of Experimental Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal tract disorder characterized by uncontrolled inflammatory responses to the disrupted intestinal epithelial barrier and gut microbiome dysbiosis. Currently available small-molecule immunosuppressive agents and anticytokine biologics show limited potency, mainly due to the complexity of the inflammatory network involved in IBD. Here, we develop an oral formulation of macrophage membrane-coated nanoparticles capsulated in enteric polymer-coated gelatin capsules (denoted "cp-MΦ-NPs") for IBD treatment. The capsules protect the nanoparticles from gastric degradation and allow for targeted delivery to the colon. At the inflamed colon, cp-MΦ-NPs act as macrophage decoys that bind and neutralize pro-inflammatory cytokines. The in vivo treatment efficacy of cp-MΦ-NPs is tested in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. In both prophylactic and delayed treatment regimens, the oral delivery of cp-MΦ-NPs significantly alleviates IBD severity, reflected by reduced intestinal inflammation and intestinal barrier restoration. Overall, cp-MΦ-NPs provide a biomimetic nanomedicine strategy for the treatment of IBD.

An epigallocatechin gallate-amorphous calcium phosphate nanocomposite for caries prevention and demineralized enamel restoration

Biomineralization with amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) is a highly effective strategy for caries prevention and defect restoration. The identification and interruption of cariogenic biofilm formation during remineralization remains a challenge in current practice. In this study, an epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-ACP functional nanocomposite was developed to prevent and restore demineralization by integrating the antibacterial property of EGCG and the remineralization effect of ACP. The synthesized EGCG-ACP showed good biocompatibility with L-929 ​cells and human gingival fibroblasts. Under neutral conditions, the sustained release of ACP from EGCG-ACP restored the microstructure and mechanical properties of demineralized enamel. Under acidic conditions, protonated EGCG released from EGCG-ACP exerted a strong antibacterial effect, and the ACP release rate doubled within 4 ​h, resulting in the prevention of demineralization in the presence of cariogenic bacteria. The pH-responsive features of EGCG-ACP to promote the protonation of EGCG and ACP release facilitated its performance in remineralization effect to overcome the difficulty of restoring demineralized enamel in a cariogenic acidic environment, which was evidenced by the in vivo experiment carried out in a rat oral cariogenic environment. The results of this study indicate the potential of EGCG-ACP for the prevention of enamel demineralization and provide a theoretical basis its application in populations with high caries risk.

Encapsulation of Polyphenolic Compounds Based on Hemicelluloses to Enhance Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Colorectal Cancer

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) are difficult to cure, and available treatment is associated with troubling side effects. In addition, current therapies have limited efficacy and are characterized by high costs, and a large segment of the IBD and CRC patients are refractive to the treatment. Moreover, presently used anti-IBD therapies in the clinics are primarily aimed on the symptomatic control. That is why new agents with therapeutic potential against IBD and CRC are required. Currently, polyphenols have received great attention in the pharmaceutical industry and in medicine due to their health-promoting properties. They may exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-cancer activity, via inhibiting production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes or factors associated with carcinogenesis (e.g., matrix metalloproteinases, vascular endothelial growth factor), suggesting they may have therapeutic potential against IBD and CRC. However, their use is limited under both processing conditions or gastrointestinal interactions, reducing their stability and hence their bioaccessibility and bioavailability. Therefore, there is a need for more effective carriers that could be used for encapsulation of polyphenolic compounds. In recent years, natural polysaccharides have been proposed for creating carriers used in the synthesis of polyphenol encapsulates. Among these, hemicelluloses are particularly noteworthy, being characterized by good biocompatibility, biodegradation, low immunogenicity, and pro-health activity. They may also demonstrate synergy with the polyphenol payload. This review discusses the utility and potential of hemicellulose-based encapsulations of polyphenols as support for treatment of IBD and CRC.

Engineering fucoxanthin-loaded probiotics' membrane vesicles for the dietary intervention of colitis

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are very attractive as carriers of active components due to their good immunological and their ability to penetrate the physiological barrier that synthetic delivery carriers cannot penetrate. However, the low secretion capacity of EVs limited its widespread adoption, let alone the lower yield of EVs loaded with active components. Here, we report a large-scale engineering preparation strategy of synthetic probiotic membrane vesicles for encapsulating fucoxanthin (FX-MVs), an intervention for colitis. Compared with the EVs naturally secreted by probiotics, the engineering membrane vesicles showed a 150-fold yield and richer protein. Moreover, FX-MVs improved the gastrointestinal stability of fucoxanthin and inhibited H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage by scavenging free radicals effectively (p < 0.05). The in vivo results showed that FX-MVs could promote the polarization of macrophages to M2 type, prevent the injury and shortening of colon tissue (p < 0.05), and improve the colonic inflammatory response. Consistently, proinflammatory cytokines were effectively suppressed after FX-MVs treatment (p < 0.05). Unexpectedly, such engineering FX-MVs could also reshape the gut microbiota communities and improve the abundance of short-chain fatty acids in the colon. This study lays a foundation for developing dietary interventions using natural foods to treat intestinal-related diseases.

Oral infliximab nanomedicines for targeted treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Anti-TNF biological therapies such as infliximab (INF) have revolutionised the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). However, serious adverse effects due to systemic administration can significantly impact patient quality of life, limiting their success. Oral nanomedicines propose an innovative solution to provide local delivery to inflamed gastrointestinal tissues, thereby limiting systemic exposure and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This study aimed to examine the potential of INF nanomedicines for IBD treatment with a focus on nanoparticle (NP) size to modulate the targeting of INF to the epithelial barrier.

METHODS

Healthy and inflamed in vitro models of the intestinal epithelial barrier were established to examine the cell interaction of PLGA-PEGNPs of varying particle sizes and polydispersities. INF-loaded NPs were prepared by electrostatic interaction of INF with NPs and examined for their therapeutic efficacy in the inflamed epithelial cell barrier model.

RESULTS

NP interaction was significantly enhanced in the inflamed cell barrier model, with increased transport observed for 130 - 300 nm NPs and accumulation of larger NPs (∼600 nm) at the barrier. Delivery of INF directly to the inflamed barrier by ∼600 nm NPs accelerated recovery of barrier integrity and reduced inflammatory cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity in comparison to treatment with INF alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this study show that NP particle size can be used to differentially target and treat the inflamed intestinal barrier. Oral INF nanomedicines of modulated size present a novel strategy for the local, targeted treatment of IBD.

Combining nanotechnology with monoclonal antibody drugs for rheumatoid arthritis treatments

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic immune disease characterized by synovial inflammation. Patients with RA commonly experience significant damage to their hand and foot joints, which can lead to joint deformities and even disability. Traditional treatments have several clinical drawbacks, including unclear pharmacological mechanisms and serious side effects. However, the emergence of antibody drugs offers a promising approach to overcome these limitations by specifically targeting interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and other cytokines that are closely related to the onset of RA. This approach reduces the incidence of adverse effects and contributes to significant therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, combining these antibody drugs with drug delivery nanosystems (DDSs) can improve their tissue accumulation and bioavailability.Herein, we provide a summary of the pathogenesis of RA, the available antibody drugs and DDSs that improve the efficacy of these drugs. However, several challenges need to be addressed in their clinical applications, including patient compliance, stability, immunogenicity, immunosupression, target and synergistic effects. We propose strategies to overcome these limitations. In summary, we are optimistic about the prospects of treating RA with antibody drugs, given their specific targeting mechanisms and the potential benefits of combining them with DDSs.

Harnessing polymer-derived drug delivery systems for combating inflammatory bowel disease

The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is incurable, chronic, recrudescent disorders in the inflamed intestines. Current clinic treatments are challenged by systemic exposure-induced severe side effects, inefficiency after long-term treatment, and increased risks of infection and malignancy due to immunosuppression. Fortunately, naturally bioactive small molecules, reactive oxygen species scavengers (or antioxidants), and gut microbiota modulators have emerged as promising candidates for the IBD treatment. Polymeric systems have been engineered as a delivery vehicle to improve the bioavailability and efficacy of these therapeutic agents through targeting the mucosa and enhancing intestinal adhesion and retention, and reduce their systemic toxicity. Herein we survey polymer-derived drug delivery systems for combating the IBD. Advanced delivery technologies, therapeutic intervention strategies, and the principles for the construction of hierarchical, mucosa-targeting, and bioresponsive systems are elaborated, providing insights into design and development of from-bench-to-bedside drug delivery polymeric systems for the IBD treatment.

Emerging Nanotechnologies and Microbiome Engineering for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by the chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and impacts almost 7 million people across the globe. Current therapeutics are effective in treating the symptoms, but they often do not address the root cause or selectively target areas of inflammation. Notably, self-assembled nanoparticles show great promise as drug delivery systems for the treatment of IBD. Nanoparticles can be designed to survive the harsh gastric conditions and reach inflamed areas of the gastrointestinal tract. Oral drug delivery with nanoparticles can localize drugs to the impacted inflamed region using active and/or passive targeting and promote a high rate of drug dispersion in local tissues, thus reducing potential off-target toxicities. Since a dysregulated gut microbiome is implicated in the development and progression of IBD, it is also important to develop nanoparticles and biomaterials that can restore symbiotic microbes while reducing the proliferation of harmful microbes. In this review, we highlight recent advances in self-assembled nanosystems designed for addressing inflammation and dysregulated gut microbiomes as potential treatments for IBD. Nanoparticles have a promising future in improving the delivery of current therapeutics, increasing patient compliance by providing an oral method of medication, and reducing side effects. However, remaining challenges include scale-up synthesis of nanoparticles, potential side effects, and financial obstacles of clinical trials. It would be in the patients' best interest to continue research on nanoparticles in the pursuit of more effective therapeutics for the treatment of IBD.

A Biomarker-Responsive Nanosystem with Colon-Targeted Delivery for Ulcerative Colitis's Detection and Treatment with Optoacoustic/NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a prevalent idiopathic inflammatory disease which causes such complications as intestinal perforation, obstruction, and bleeding, and thus deleteriously impacting people's normal work and quality of life. Hence, accurate diagnosis of UC is crucial in terms of planning optimal treatment plan. Herein, a pH/reactive oxygen species (ROS) dual-responsive nanosystem (BM@EP) is developed for UC's detection and therapy. BM@EP is composed of a chromophore-drug dyad and the enteric coating. The chromophore-drug dyad (BOD-XT-DHM) is synthesized by linking the chromophore (BOD-XT-BOH) and a flavonoid drug (dihydromyricetin DHM) through boronate ester bond. The enteric coating includes Eudragit S100 and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), the former is commonly employed as a pH-dependent polymer coating excipient so as to attain colon-targeted delivery, and the latter has been widely used as an excipient for the controlled-extended release. After oral administration, BM@EP delivers the dyad (BOD-XT-DHM) into the colon and releases the dyad molecules by being triggered by the alkaline pH in t colon, thereafter upon being stimulated by overexpressed H₂ O₂ in the inflamed colon, the boronate bond in the dyad is broken down and correspondingly the drug DHM is released for UC therapy, simultaneously the chromophore is released for near-infrared second window (NIR-II) fluorescence and optoacoustic imaging for UC diagnosis and recovery evaluation.

Immuno-PET Imaging of TNF-α in Colitis Using 89Zr-DFO-infliximab

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) neutralization has become increasingly important in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). A series of monoclonal antibodies were approved in the clinic for anti-TNF-α therapy. However, a comprehensive assessment of TNF-α levels throughout the colon, which facilitates the diagnosis of IBD and predicts anti-TNF-α efficacy, remains challenging. Here, we radiolabeled infliximab with long-lived radionuclides ⁸⁹Zr for immuno-positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of TNF-α in vivo. The increased TNF-α level was detected in the inflammatory colon of the dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis mice. The immuno-PET imaging of ⁸⁹Zr-desferrioxamine-infliximab reveals a high uptake (7.1 ± 0.3%ID/g) in the inflammatory colon, which is significantly higher than in the healthy control and blocked groups. The colon-to-muscle ratio reached more than 10 and was maintained at a high level for 10 h after injection. The ex vivo biodistribution study also verified the superior uptake in the inflammatory colon. This study provides an in vivo immune-PET approach to molecular imaging of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. It is promising in diagnosing and predicting efficacy in both IBD and other autoimmune diseases.

Site-selective oral delivery of therapeutic antibodies to the inflamed colon via a folic acid-grafted organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposite system

This study aimed to develop a pH-responsive folic acid-grafted organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposite system for site-selective oral delivery of therapeutic antibodies. A folic acid-grafted aminoclay (FA-AC) was prepared via an in situ sol‒gel method. Then, a drug-loaded nanocomplex was prepared via the electrostatic interaction of FA-AC with infliximab (IFX), a model antibody, and coated with Eudragit® S100 (EFA-AC-IFX). FA-AC exhibited favorable profiles as a drug carrier including low cytotoxicity, good target selectivity, and capability to form a nanocomplex with negatively charged macromolecules. A pH-responsive FA-AC-based nanocomplex containing IFX (EFA-AC-IFX) was also obtained in a narrow size distribution with high entrapment efficiency (>87%). The conformational stability of IFX entrapped in EFA-AC-IFX was well maintained in the presence of proteolytic enzymes. EFA-AC-IFX exhibited pH-dependent drug release, minimizing premature drug release in gastric conditions and the upper intestine. Accordingly, oral administration of EFA-AC-IFX to colitis-induced mice was effective in alleviating the progression of ulcerative colitis, while oral IFX solution had no efficacy. These results suggest that a pH-responsive FA-AC-based nanocomposite system can be a new platform for the site-selective oral delivery of therapeutic antibodies.

Novel drug delivery systems for inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic illness characterized by relapsing inflammation of the intestines. The disorder is stratified according to the severity and is marked by its two main phenotypical representations: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Pathogenesis of the disease is ambiguous and is expected to have interactivity between genetic disposition, environmental factors such as bacterial agents, and dysregulated immune response. Treatment for IBD aims to reduce symptom extent and severity and halt disease progression. The mainstay drugs have been 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive agents. Parenteral, oral and rectal routes are the conventional methods of drug delivery, and among all, oral administration is most widely adopted. However, problems of systematic drug reactions and low specificity in delivering drugs to the inflamed sites have emerged with these regular routes of delivery. Novel drug delivery systems have been introduced to overcome several therapeutic obstacles and for localized drug delivery to target tissues. Enteric-coated microneedle pills, various nano-drug delivery techniques, prodrug systems, lipid-based vesicular systems, hybrid drug delivery systems, and biologic drug delivery systems constitute some of these novel methods. Microneedles are painless, they dislodge their content at the affected site, and their release can be prolonged. Recombinant bacteria such as genetically engineered Lactococcus Lactis and eukaryotic cells, including GM immune cells and red blood cells as nanoparticle carriers, can be plausible delivery methods when evaluating biologic systems. Nano-particle drug delivery systems consisting of various techniques are also employed as nanoparticles can penetrate through inflamed regions and adhere to the thick mucus of the diseased site. Prodrug systems such as 5-ASAs formulations or their derivatives are effective in reducing colonic damage. Liposomes can be modified with both hydrophilic and lipophilic particles and act as lipid-based vesicular systems, while hybrid drug delivery systems containing an internal nanoparticle section for loading drugs are potential routes too. Leukosomes are also considered as possible carrier systems, and results from mouse models have revealed that they control anti- and pro-inflammatory molecules.

The second decade of anti-TNF-a therapy in clinical practice: new lessons and future directions in the COVID-19 era

Since the late 1990s, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors (anti-TNFs) have revolutionized the therapy of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) affecting the gut, joints, skin and eyes. Although the therapeutic armamentarium in IMIDs is being constantly expanded, anti-TNFs remain the cornerstone of their treatment. During the second decade of their application in clinical practice, a large body of additional knowledge has accumulated regarding various aspects of anti-TNF-α therapy, whereas new indications have been added. Recent experimental studies have shown that anti-TNFs exert their beneficial effects not only by restoring aberrant TNF-mediated immune mechanisms, but also by de-activating pathogenic fibroblast-like mesenchymal cells. Real-world data on millions of patients further confirmed the remarkable efficacy of anti-TNFs. It is now clear that anti-TNFs alter the physical course of inflammatory arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, leading to inhibition of local and systemic bone loss and to a decline in the number of surgeries for disease-related complications, while anti-TNFs improve morbidity and mortality, acting beneficially also on cardiovascular comorbidities. On the other hand, no new safety signals emerged, whereas anti-TNF-α safety in pregnancy and amid the COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed. The use of biosimilars was associated with cost reductions making anti-TNFs more widely available. Moreover, the current implementation of the “treat-to-target” approach and treatment de-escalation strategies of IMIDs were based on anti-TNFs. An intensive search to discover biomarkers to optimize response to anti-TNF-α treatment is currently ongoing. Finally, selective targeting of TNF-α receptors, new forms of anti-TNFs and combinations with other agents, are being tested in clinical trials and will probably expand the spectrum of TNF-α inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for IMIDs.

Interactions between Nanoparticles and Intestine

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) has surely grown in recent years due to their versatility, with a spectrum of applications that range from nanomedicine to the food industry. Recent research focuses on the development of NPs for the oral administration route rather than the intravenous one, placing the interactions between NPs and the intestine at the centre of the attention. This allows the NPs functionalization to exploit the different characteristics of the digestive tract, such as the different pH, the intestinal mucus layer, or the intestinal absorption capacity. On the other hand, these same characteristics can represent a problem for their complexity, also considering the potential interactions with the food matrix or the microbiota. This review intends to give a comprehensive look into three main branches of NPs delivery through the oral route: the functionalization of NPs drug carriers for systemic targets, with the case of insulin carriers as an example; NPs for the delivery of drugs locally active in the intestine, for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases and colon cancer; finally, the potential concerns and side effects of the accidental and uncontrolled exposure to NPs employed as food additives, with focus on E171 (titanium dioxide) and E174 (silver NPs).

Dual crosslinking of folic acid-modified pectin nanoparticles for enhanced oral insulin delivery

Pectin-based drug delivery systems hold great potential for oral insulin delivery, since they possess excellent gelling property, good mucoadhesion and high stability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, lack of enterocyte targeting ability and premature drug release in the upper GI tract of the susceptible ionic-crosslinked pectin matrices are two major problems to be solved. To address these issues, we developed folic acid (FA)-modified pectin nanoparticles (INS/DFAN) as insulin delivery vehicles by a dual-crosslinking method using calcium ions and adipic dihydrazide (ADH) as crosslinkers. In vitro studies indicated insulin release behaviors of INS/DFAN depended on COOH/ADH molar ratio in the dual-crosslinking process. INS/DFAN effectively prevented premature insulin release in simulated GI fluids compared to ionic-crosslinked nanoparticles (INS/FAN). At an optimized COOH/ADH molar ratio, INS/DFAN with FA graft ratio of 18.2% exhibited a relatively small particle size, high encapsulation efficiency and excellent stability. Cellular uptake of INS/DFAN was FA graft ratio dependent when it was at/below 18.2%. Uptake mechanism and intestinal distribution studies demonstrated the enhanced insulin transepithelial transport by INS/DFAN via FA carrier-mediated transport pathway. In vivo studies revealed that orally-administered INS/DFAN produced a significant reduction in blood glucose levels and further improved insulin bioavailability in type I diabetic rats compared to INS/FAN. Taken together, the combination of dual crosslinking and FA modification is an effective strategy to develop pectin nano-vehicles for enhanced oral insulin delivery.

Advances in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: Focus on polysaccharide nanoparticulate drug delivery systems

The complex pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) explains the several hurdles for finding an efficient approach to cure it. Nowadays, therapeutic protocols aim to reduce inflammation during the hot phase or maintain remission during the cold phase. Nonetheless, these drugs suffer from severe side effects or poor efficacy due to low bioavailability in the inflamed region of the intestinal tract. New protocols based on antibodies that target proinflammatory cytokines are clinically relevant. However, besides being expensive, their use is associated with a primary nonresponse or a loss of response following a long administration period. Accordingly, many researchers exploited the physiological changes of the mucosal barrier for designing nanoparticulate drug delivery systems to target inflamed tissues. Others exploited biocompatibility and relative affordability of polysaccharides to test their intrinsic anti-inflammatory and healing properties in IBD models. This critical review updates state of the art on advances in IBD treatment. Data on using polysaccharide nanoparticulate drug delivery systems for IBD treatment are reviewed and discussed.

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Nanotherapeutic Approaches for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Oxidative stress, caused by the accumulation of reactive species, is associated with the initiation and progress of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The investigation of antioxidants to target overexpressed reactive species and modulate oxidant stress pathways becomes an important therapeutic option. Nowadays, antioxidative nanotechnology has emerged as a novel strategy. The nanocarriers have shown many advantages in comparison with conventional antioxidants, owing to their on-site accumulation, stability of antioxidants, and most importantly, intrinsic multiple reactive species scavenging or catalyzing properties. This review concludes an up-to-date summary of IBD nanomedicines according to the classification of the delivered antioxidants. Moreover, the concerns and future perspectives in this study field are also discussed.

A biomimetic nanocomposite made of a ginger-derived exosome and an inorganic framework for high-performance delivery of oral antibodies

For inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) therapy, systemic exposure of anti-TNF-α antibodies brought by current clinical injection always causes serious adverse effects. Colon-targeted delivery of anti-TNF-α antibodies through the oral route is of great importance but remains a formidable challenge. Here, we reported a biomimetic nanocomposite made of a ginger-derived exosome and an inorganic framework for this purpose. A large mesoporous silicon nanoparticle (LMSN) was uniquely customized for the antibody (infliximab, INF) to load it at high levels up to 61.3 wt% and prevent its aggregation. Exosome-like nanovesicles were isolated from ginger (GE) with a high-level production (17.5 mg kg-1). Then, ultrasound was used to coat GE onto the LMSN to obtain the biomimetic nanocomposite LMSN@GE. As expected, LMSN@GE showed advantages in the oral delivery of INF: stability in the gastrointestinal tract, colon-targeted delivery and high intestinal epithelium permeability. Amazingly, GE also presented an anti-inflammatory effect by blocking the NLRP3 inflammasome in addition to its delivery value. As a result, INF/LMSN@GE showed a significantly higher efficacy in colitis mice compared to the intravenously administered INF. This work provides new insights into colon-targeted delivery of anti-TNF-α antibodies via the oral route. Moreover, it puts forward a novel strategy for drug delivery using one therapeutic agent (herb-derived exosomes).

Enhanced Interface Properties and Stability of Lignocellulose Nanocrystals Stabilized Pickering Emulsions: The Leading Role of Tannic Acid

Cellulose and tannin are both abundant and biodegradable biopolymers, whose integrations show great potential in the food field due to their nutritional properties and biological activity. Here, lignocellulose nanocrystals (LCNC) isolated from pineapple peel were complexed with tannic acid (TA) through hydrogen-bonding interaction to prepare the LCNC/TA complex for stabilizing Pickering emulsions. Introducing TA decreased the interfacial tension (23.8-20.1 mN/m) and water contact angle (83.2-56.2°) with the LCNC/TA ratio ranging from 1:0 to 1:0.8 (w/w) but increased the size of the LCNC/TA complex. The droplet size of emulsions decreased from 115.0 to 51.3 μm accompanied by improved rheological properties. The emulsions stabilized by the LCNC/TA complex exhibited higher storage and environmental stabilities than those stabilized by LCNC alone. Interestingly, TA effectively promoted the interfacial adsorption of LCNC to build a stronger interfacial layer. The emulsion network structure was enhanced due to the formation of hydrogen-bonding interaction between LCNC and TA in the continuous phase.

How could nanobiotechnology improve treatment outcomes of anti-TNF-α therapy in inflammatory bowel disease? Current knowledge, future directions

Despite significant advances in therapeutic possibilities for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in recent years, there is still a big room for improvement. In particular, biological treatment can induce not only clinical remission but also mucosal healing of the gastrointestinal tract. Among these therapeutic molecules, anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-α) antibodies were the first to revolutionize treatment algorithms in IBD. However, due to the parenteral route of administration and systemic mode of action, TNF-α blockers are characterised by high rates of immunogenicity-related loss of response and serious adverse events. Moreover, intravenous or subcutaneous therapy is not considered patient-friendly and requires occasional, direct contact with healthcare centres. To overcome these limitations, several attempts have been made to design oral pharmaceutical formulations of these molecules. It is hypothesized that oral anti-TNF-α antibodies therapy can directly provide a targeted and potent anti-inflammatory effect in the inflamed gastrointestinal tissues without significant systemic exposure, improving long-term treatment outcomes and safety. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge and future perspectives regarding different approaches made towards entering a new era of oral anti-TNF-α therapy, namely, the tailoring of biocompatible nanoparticles with anti-TNF-α antibodies for site-specific targeting to IBD. In particular, we discuss the latest concepts applying the achievements of nanotechnology-based drug design in this area.

ROS-Responsive Boronate-Stabilized Polyphenol-Poloxamer 188 Assembled Dexamethasone Nanodrug for Macrophage Repolarization in Osteoarthritis Treatment

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disabling joint disease associated with chronic inflammation. The polarization of macrophages plays the key role in inflammatory microenvironment of joint which is a therapeutic target for OA treatment. Herein, a boronate-stabilized polyphenol-poloxamer assembled dexamethasone nanodrug with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive drug release behavior and ROS scavenging ability is prepared. Thanks to that, the nanodrug can efficiently inhibit the ROS and nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW264.7 macrophages and modulate macrophages M2 polarization at a much lower concentration than free drug dexamethasone. Furthermore, the monosodium iodoacetate-induced OA mice treated with this nanodrug is very similar with the normal mice with the evaluation of body weight and scores including clinical arthritis scores, claw circumference, and kinematics score. The inflammation associated angiogenesis is also reduced which revealed by ⁶⁸ Ga-labeled arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide micro-positron emission tomography imaging. Cartilage degradation and bone erosion in the joints are also inhibited by the nanodrug, along with the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines. In addition, the biosafety of this nanodrug is also verified. This nanodrug with excellent immunomodulation properties can be used not only for OA therapy but also for other inflammatory diseases associated with excess oxidative stress and macrophage polarization.

Multifaceted role of phyto-derived polyphenols in nanodrug delivery systems

As naturally occurring bioactive products, several lines of evidence have shown the potential of polyphenols in the medical intervention of various diseases, including tumors, inflammatory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Notably, owing to the particular molecular structure, polyphenols can combine with proteins, metal ions, polymers, and nucleic acids providing better strategies for polyphenol-delivery strategies. This contributes to the inherent advantages of polyphenols as important functional components for other drug delivery strategies, e.g., protecting nanodrugs from oxidation as a protective layer, improving the physicochemical properties of carbohydrate polymer carriers, or being used to synthesize innovative functional delivery vehicles. Polyphenols have emerged as a multifaceted player in novel drug delivery systems, both as therapeutic agents delivered to intervene in disease progression and as essential components of drug carriers. Although an increasing number of studies have focused on polyphenol-based nanodrug delivery including epigallocatechin-3-gallate, curcumin, resveratrol, tannic acid, and polyphenol-related innovative preparations, these molecules are not without inherent shortcomings. The active biochemical characteristics of polyphenols constitute a prerequisite to their high-frequency use in drug delivery systems and likewise to provoke new challenges for the design and development of novel polyphenol drug delivery systems of improved efficacies. In this review, we focus on both the targeted delivery of polyphenols and the application of polyphenols as components of drug delivery carriers, and comprehensively elaborate on the application of polyphenols in new types of drug delivery systems. According to the different roles played by polyphenols in innovative drug delivery strategies, potential limitations and risks are discussed in detail including the influences on the physical and chemical properties of nanodrug delivery systems, and their influence on normal physiological functions inside the organism.

Drug delivery to the inflamed intestinal mucosa - targeting technologies and human cell culture models for better therapies of IBD

Current treatment strategies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) seek to alleviate the undesirable symptoms of the disorder. Despite the higher specificity of newer generation therapeutics, e.g. monoclonal antibodies, adverse effects still arise from their interference with non-specific systemic immune cascades. To circumvent such undesirable effects, both conventional and newer therapeutic options can benefit from various targeting strategies. Of course, both the development and the assessment of the efficiency of such targeted delivery systems necessitate the use of suitable in vivo and in vitro models representing relevant pathophysiological manifestations of the disorder. Accordingly, the current review seeks to provide a comprehensive discussion of the available preclinical models with emphasis on human in vitro models of IBD, along with their potentials and limitations. This is followed by an elaboration on the advancements in the field of biology- and nanotechnology-based targeted drug delivery systems and the potential rooms for improvement to facilitate their clinical translation.

Broad-Spectrum Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging and Activated Macrophage-Targeting Microparticles Ameliorate Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a refractory chronic inflammatory disease. An excessively high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the colon is one of the characteristics and pathogenic factors of IBD. Therefore, scavenging excessive ROS is a feasible method to treat IBD. Because ROS include many types of species, scavenging a single kind of ROS is not enough to reduce the ROS level and cure IBD effectively. Herein, broad-spectrum ROS scavenging and activated macrophage-targeting microparticles (MPs) are successfully fabricated by coprecipitation of catalase (CAT) and bovine serum albumin into a MnCO₃ template followed by deposition of polydopamine (PDA), assembly of targeting molecules on the surface, and finally removal of MnCO₃. The CAT content of MPs is about 34.1%. The obtained MPs can effectively scavenge the broad spectrum of ROS and retain 88% of the radical scavenging activity even after the treatment of simulated gastric fluid. The surface-modified dextran sulfate endows MPs with the targeting ability toward activated macrophages, achieving a better therapeutic effect. The MPs with components mostly derived from natural substances exhibit good biocompatibility and can show excellent ROS scavenging ability in cell experiments. In animal experiments, oral administration of a proper dosage of MPs can substantially mitigate colonic inflammation, as evidenced by disease activity index scores reduced by ∼40%, reduced body weight loss, and the production of typical proinflammatory cytokines in the inflammatory colon. This kind of MP can also be utilized for the treatment of other inflammatory diseases.

Polyphenol-assisted facile assembly of bioactive nanoparticles for targeted therapy of heart diseases

It remains a great challenge for targeted therapy of heart diseases. To achieve desirable heart targeting, we developed a polyphenol-assisted nanoprecipitation/self-assembly approach for facile engineering of functional nanoparticles. Three different materials were employed as representative carriers, while gallic acid, catechin, epigallocatechin gallate, and tannic acid (TA) served as typical polyphenols with varied numbers of phenolic hydroxyl groups. By optimizing different parameters, such as polyphenol types and the weight ratio of carrier materials and polyphenols, well-defined nanoparticles with excellent physicochemical properties can be easily prepared. Regardless of various carrier materials, TA-derived nanoparticles showed potent reactive oxygen species-scavenging activity, especially nanoparticles produced from a cyclodextrin-derived bioactive material (TPCD). By internalization into cardiomyocytes, TPCD/TA nanoparticles (defined as TPTN) effectively protected cells from hypoxic-ischemic injury. After intravenous injection, TPTN considerably accumulated in the injured heart in two murine models of ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest in rats and myocardial hypertrophy in mice. Correspondingly, intravenously delivered TPTN afforded excellent therapeutic effects in both heart diseases. Preliminary experiments also revealed good safety of TPTN. These results substantiated that TPTN is a promising nanotherapy for targeted treatment of heart diseases, while polyphenol-assisted self-assembly is a facile but robust strategy to develop heart-targeting delivery systems.

Oral Delivery of Biologics in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been posed as a great worldwide health threat. Having an onset during early adulthood, IBD is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by remission and relapse. Due to its enigmatic etiology, no cure has been developed at the moment. Conventionally, steroids, 5-aminosalicylic acid, and immunosuppressants have been applied clinically to relieve patients’ syndrome which, unfavorably, causes severe adverse drug reactions including diarrhea, anemia, and glaucoma. Insufficient therapeutic effects also loom, and surgical resection is mandatory in half of the patients within 10 years after diagnosis. Biologics demonstrated unique and differentiative therapeutic mechanism which can alleviate the inflammation more effectively. However, their application in IBD has been hindered considering their stability and toxicity. Scientists have brought up with the concept of nanomedicine to achieve the targeted drug delivery of biologics for IBD. Here, we provide an overview of biologics for IBD treatment and we review existing formulation strategies for different biological categories including antibodies, gene therapy, and peptides. This review highlights the current trends in oral delivery of biologics with an emphasis on the important role of nanomedicine in the development of reliable methods for biologic delivery in IBD treatment.

Polyphenol-Containing Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Properties, and Therapeutic Delivery

Polyphenols, the phenolic hydroxyl group-containing organic molecules, are widely found in natural plants and have shown beneficial effects on human health. Recently, polyphenol-containing nanoparticles have attracted extensive research attention due to their antioxidation property, anticancer activity, and universal adherent affinity, and thus have shown great promise in the preparation, stabilization, and modification of multifunctional nanoassemblies for bioimaging, therapeutic delivery, and other biomedical applications. Additionally, the metal-polyphenol networks, formed by the coordination interactions between polyphenols and metal ions, have been used to prepare an important class of polyphenol-containing nanoparticles for surface modification, bioimaging, drug delivery, and disease treatments. By focusing on the interactions between polyphenols and different materials (e.g., metal ions, inorganic materials, polymers, proteins, and nucleic acids), a comprehensive review on the synthesis and properties of the polyphenol-containing nanoparticles is provided. Moreover, the remarkable versatility of polyphenol-containing nanoparticles in different biomedical applications, including biodetection, multimodal bioimaging, protein and gene delivery, bone repair, antibiosis, and cancer theranostics is also demonstrated. Finally, the challenges faced by future research regarding the polyphenol-containing nanoparticles are discussed.

Novel polyurethane based particulate formulations of infliximab reduce inflammation in DSS induced murine model of colitis - A preliminary study

Our recent study showed that novel infliximab (INF) loaded polyesterurethane (INF-PU) and INF-PU-PEG particulate formulations reduced inflammation in an in-vitro epithelial inflammation model. In this study we investigated therapeutic potential of novel INF-PU and INF-PU-PEG particulate formulations to reduce inflammation in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced murine model of colitis. Severity of colitis was assessed by measurement of disease activity index (DAI) score, inflammatory markers (neutrophil infiltration, TNFα) and histological score. Treatment groups orally administered with INF-PU and INF-PU-PEG particulate formulations showed improvement in the clinical signs of colitis, similar to that observed with intraperitoneally administered INF, in both, moderate and severe DSS induced colitis model. This was related to a significant reduction in inflammatory cytokines, resulting in a significant reduction in histological score (ANOVA; p < 0.05), indicative of mucosal healing, a key goal of IBD therapy. This could be attributed to its targeted delivery to the inflamed colon and higher permeation of these particulate formulations across the inflamed colonic mucosa, as observed by the confocal images, resulting in local inhibition of TNFα at its site of production. These promising preliminary results warrant further investigation of orally administered INF and its novel particulate formulations in a wider preclinical study.

Targeting strategies of oral nano-delivery systems for treating inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder of gastrointestinal tract with rising incidence. Established treatments of IBD are characterized by significantly adverse effects, insufficient therapeutic efficacy. Employing the oral nano-drug delivery systems for targeted therapy is capable of effectively avoiding systematic absorption and increasing local drug concentration, consequently leading to decreased adverse effects and improved therapeutic outcomes. This review gives a brief profile of pathophysiological considerations in terms of developing disease-directed drug delivery systems, then focuses on mechanisms and strategies of current oral nano-drug delivery systems, including size-, enzyme-, redox-, pH-, ligand-receptor-, mucus-dependent systems, and proposes the future directions of managements for IBD.