Balancing Microthrombosis and Inflammation via Injectable Protein Hydrogel for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Immunology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis involves a detrimental cycle of inflammation and microthrombosis.
• This cycle exacerbates tissue hypoxia and ischemia, complicating disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an injectable protein hydrogel capable of simultaneously inhibiting inflammation and microthrombosis.
• To create a therapeutic platform that can disrupt the pathological cycle in IBD.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a self-healing, injectable hydrogel (HEP-Ag-BSA) via silver ion-mediated coordination between bovine serum albumin and heparin.
• In vitro evaluation of hydrogel properties, including self-healing, injectability, biocompatibility, drug release, anti-coagulation, and anti-inflammation.
• In vivo assessment using mouse models of colitis, including imaging for retention time and histological analysis for therapeutic efficacy.

Main Results:

• The HEP-Ag-BSA hydrogel demonstrated excellent self-healing, injectability, biocompatibility, and sustained release.
• Ex vivo and in vitro assays confirmed the hydrogel's potent anti-coagulation and anti-inflammatory activities.
• In vivo studies showed enhanced retention at inflammatory sites and significant inhibition of microthrombosis in a colitis model with reduced bleeding risk.

Conclusions:

• The developed protein hydrogel effectively impedes the inflammation-microthrombosis cycle in IBD.
• This versatile platform offers a novel, integrated therapeutic approach for managing inflammatory bowel disease.