Macrophage-Biomimetic Nanoparticles Ameliorate Ulcerative Colitis through Reducing Inflammatory Factors Expression

Area of Science:

• Nanomedicine
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology

Background:

• Elevated S100A9 levels in ulcerative colitis correlate with disease severity.
• S100A9 is a potential therapeutic target, but effective delivery methods are lacking.
• Developing targeted therapies for ulcerative colitis is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a safe and effective nano-delivery system for targeting S100A9.
• To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of this system in a murine model of ulcerative colitis.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized poly (lactic acid-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-tasquinimod nanoparticles (PLGA-TAS).
• Coated PLGA-TAS with macrophage membranes (MMs) to create MM-PLGA-TAS for specific enrichment in colitis regions.
• Utilized a chemically induced ulcerative colitis mouse model to assess therapeutic effects.

Main Results:

• MM-PLGA-TAS demonstrated efficient endocytosis by inflammatory cells in vitro.
• The nanoparticles specifically accumulated in inflamed colonic tissue in vivo.
• Oral administration of MM-PLGA-TAS significantly alleviated ulcerative colitis symptoms by reducing S100A9 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Conclusions:

• A convenient, orally targeted drug delivery system for ulcerative colitis was developed.
• The system enhances drug accumulation in inflamed tissue, minimizing systemic exposure.
• This nano-delivery approach represents a promising therapeutic strategy for ulcerative colitis.