Carbon-Coated Probiotics Restore Intestinal Homeostasis to Promote Damage Repair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is regarded as green cancer that seriously endangers human quality of life. Orally administered probiotic treatment has been regarded as a promising strategy for the adjunctive treatment of IBD. However, its efficacy is greatly inhibited due to the harsh gut microenvironment and low targeted delivery volume. Herein, carbon dots are applied to modify Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (C dots@LGG) to enhance the anti-inflammatory and injury healing effects of probiotics. The C-dots coating bestowed probiotics with a remarkable antioxidant capability, thereby mitigating inflammation and safeguarding LGG from the rigors of gastrointestinal circumstances and oxidative harm within the inflamed colon, as well as facilitating its adhesion and colonization. Conjointly, C dots@LGG reconstructs the intestinal barrier by spurring the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells, especially goblet cells, and enhancing the intercellular tight junction (TJ). Moreover, C dots@LGG with enhanced metabolic capacity regulated the gut microbiota by enriching its diversity, suppressing the multiplication of harmful bacteria, and fostering that of beneficial bacteria. Collectively, these combined effects endow C dots@LGG to effectively attenuate mice colitis and promote injury healing in vivo. Given its simple synthesis protocol, it is anticipated that C dots@LGG can provide an effective approach for the collaborative non-immunosuppressive therapy for IBD.