Constructing natural phenolic acid mesopores to enhance chemotherapy and reduce accompanied intestinal damage

Mesoporous nanostructures have garnered significant attention as next-generation drug delivery systems due to their high specific surface area and tunable pore architectures. Incorporating bioactive natural products into these structures is expected to introduce novel functionalities and enhance therapeutic performance. In this study, we focus on the construction of mesoporous rosmarinic acid (MP-RA), a phenolic acid-based nanostructure, and its molecular self-assembly mechanism, as well as its application in oral chemotherapy through a Xylan-Irinotecan (Xylan-IR) coating strategy. Results reveal that the initial oxidative aggregation of rosmarinic acid leads to the formation of an active self-template, with enhanced hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interactions driving the ordered assembly into mesoporous structures. The resulting MP-RA exhibits a porous architecture enriched with active sites derived from the parent bioactive molecules, enabling efficient encapsulation of irinotecan (IR). Moreover, stable integration with the Xylan-IR coating ensures protection through gastric transit, facilitates targeted delivery, and enhances modulation of the gut microbiota. These combined effects improve anticancer efficacy and reduce chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal inflammation. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of self-assembled, small-molecule-based mesoporous structures in advancing natural product-driven drug delivery systems toward broader clinical applications.