Multifunctional Nanozyme Hydrogel with Mucosal Healing Activity for Single-Dose Ulcerative Colitis Therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Nanozymes offer enzyme-like activity for reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging in inflammatory disease therapy.
• Current ulcerative colitis (UC) treatments focus on ROS scavenging but often neglect mucosal repair, increasing infection risks.
• Developing multifunctional nanozymes that address both ROS and mucosal damage is crucial for effective UC treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and verify a multifunctional nanozyme hydrogel for ulcerative colitis (UC) therapy.
• To evaluate the nanozyme hydrogel's efficacy as both an ROS scavenger and a mucosal healing enhancer.
• To compare the therapeutic effect of the nanozyme hydrogel with a current clinical medication.

Main Methods:

• Chitosan-coated cerium oxide nanozymes (CCNZ) were synthesized and characterized for ROS scavenging and antibacterial properties.
• CCNZ was formulated into a hydrogel with alginate (CCNZ:Alg) for enhanced therapeutic delivery.
• The optimized nanozyme hydrogel (CCNZ1:Alg1.5) was evaluated in vitro and in vivo for UC treatment efficacy.

Main Results:

• The CCNZ nanozyme hydrogel demonstrated excellent ROS-scavenging and antibacterial activities.
• The optimized CCNZ1:Alg1.5 hydrogel exhibited targeted delivery, supported cell growth, and possessed multifunctional therapeutic properties.
• A single dose of the nanozyme hydrogel significantly alleviated UC symptoms, outperforming 5-aminosalicylic acid.

Conclusions:

• The developed nanozyme hydrogel is a promising multifunctional therapeutic agent for ulcerative colitis (UC).
• This approach effectively combines ROS scavenging with crucial mucosal healing, addressing limitations of current treatments.
• The study highlights the potential of nanozymes in regenerative medicine and offers a viable strategy for clinical UC therapy.