A Nanosheet-Anchored Hydrogel System: An Injectable Platform for Herbs Polyphenols in Treating Ulcerative Colitis.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Gastroenterology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Natural polyphenols possess anti-inflammatory and tissue-repair properties beneficial for ulcerative colitis (UC).
• Developing effective sustained-release carriers for polyphenols is crucial for UC treatment.
• Existing therapies face challenges in targeted delivery and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a novel hydrogel system for targeted delivery of Cayratia japonica polyphenols in UC therapy.
• To evaluate the hydrogel's properties, including sustained release, mucoadhesion, and synergistic therapeutic effects.
• To assess the in vivo efficacy of the hydrogel in mitigating UC progression and restoring intestinal barrier function.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a hyaluronic acid-dopamine (HA-DA) hydrogel matrix incorporating polyphenols and manganese dioxide nanosheets (MNS).
• Characterization of hydrogel architecture, mucoadhesion, and in vitro release kinetics.
• Evaluation of synergistic effects including oxygen generation and ROS scavenging.
• In vivo studies using murine colitis models to assess therapeutic efficacy and histopathological changes.

Main Results:

• The engineered hydrogel demonstrated a porous, mucoadhesive structure for sustained colonic release.
• In vitro studies showed synergistic effects: oxygen generation, ROS scavenging, and controlled polyphenol release.
• In vivo models showed significant mitigation of colitis, including reduced weight loss, lower DAI scores, and suppressed colon shortening.
• Histopathology confirmed barrier restoration via tight junction protein upregulation and M1-to-M2 macrophage polarization.

Conclusions:

• The developed multifunctional hydrogel platform enables effective in situ delivery of natural polyphenols for UC.
• This approach offers a potent and targeted strategy for managing inflammatory injury diseases like UC.
• The hydrogel shows significant therapeutic potential for restoring intestinal barrier integrity and function.