Polydopamine-mediated biointerfacial nanozyme as probiotic protective coating for IBD therapy

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
• Gastroenterology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by intestinal barrier dysfunction and gut microbiota dysregulation.
• Probiotics show therapeutic potential for IBD but suffer from low viability and poor adhesion in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Existing challenges necessitate innovative strategies to enhance probiotic delivery and efficacy for IBD treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a specialized nano-coating for probiotics to improve their survival and therapeutic effects in IBD.
• To investigate the mucoadhesive, ROS-scavenging, and gastrointestinal tolerance properties of the nano-coated probiotics.
• To assess the efficacy of nano-coated probiotics in ameliorating IBD symptoms and restoring gut microbiota balance in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Development of a protective nano-coating (PDA@CeO2) using biointerfacial phenolic assembly and nanozymes for Bifidobacterium bifidum (B.B.).
• Characterization of nano-coating attachment using XRD, SEM, and TEM.
• Assessment of probiotic survival in simulated gastric fluid and therapeutic effects in IBD mouse models, including gut barrier repair and microbiota analysis.

Main Results:

• The PDA@CeO2 nano-coating significantly enhanced B.B. survival in simulated gastric fluid (9.4 times higher than unprotected B.B.).
• Nano-coated B.B. exhibited excellent mucoadhesion, ROS-scavenging activity, and tolerance in complex gastrointestinal environments.
• In IBD mouse models, PDA@CeO2-B.B. treatment promoted gut barrier repair and modulated gut microbiota composition, reducing disease recurrence.

Conclusions:

• Targeted design of protective nano-coatings can significantly enhance probiotic functionality for IBD therapy.
• PDA@CeO2-coated B.B. offers a promising strategy for improving gut barrier integrity and microbiota balance in IBD.
• This approach holds potential for developing advanced probiotic-based therapies for inflammatory bowel disease.