Oral colon-targeted pH-responsive polymeric nanoparticles loading naringin for enhanced ulcerative colitis therapy

Area of Science:

• Nanomedicine
• Drug Delivery
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Ulcerative colitis (UC) requires effective colon-targeted drug delivery to minimize systemic toxicity.
• Oral delivery systems are crucial for improving therapeutic benefits and patient compliance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel, colon-targeted nanoparticle system for delivering naringin (Nar) for UC treatment.
• To enhance nanoparticle mucoadhesion and macrophage targeting for precise drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Development of negatively charged PLGA-PEG nanoparticles encapsulating naringin (Nar).
• Surface modification with chitosan and mannose to create MC@Nar-NPs for improved targeting.
• Evaluation of nanoparticle stability, gastrointestinal resistance, and accumulation at inflammatory sites.
• Assessment of anti-inflammatory effects, including cytokine level reduction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging in vitro and in vivo.

Main Results:

• MC@Nar-NPs demonstrated excellent stability in acidic gastrointestinal conditions.
• Nanoparticles specifically accumulated at inflamed colon tissues.
• Significant reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines and ROS scavenging observed in the colon.
• Effective alleviation of colon inflammation with reduced systemic toxicity.

Conclusions:

• The developed MC@Nar-NPs offer a promising oral nanomedicine approach for targeted UC treatment.
• This system leverages Chinese herbal ingredients for localized and precise therapeutic intervention.
• Provides a theoretical basis for advanced oral drug delivery systems in inflammatory bowel disease.