Ionically bridged dexamethasone sodium phosphate-zinc-PLGA nanocomplex in alginate microgel for the local treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Colon-targeted oral drug delivery systems comprising nanoparticles and microparticles have emerged as promising tools for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) because they minimize side effects and maximize the local drug concentration. Dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP) is a potent anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid used for the treatment of UC. However, it remains a rather short-term treatment option owing to its side effects.

pH-sustaining nanostructured hydroxyapatite/alginate composite hydrogel for gastric protection and intestinal release of GG.

The gut microbiome is closely linked to gastrointestinal health and disease status. Oral administration of known probiotic strains is now considered a promising therapeutic strategy, especially for refractory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. In this study, we developed a nanostructured hydroxyapatite/alginate (HAp/Alg) composite hydrogel that protects its encapsulated probiotic GG (LGG) by neutralizing hydrogen ions that penetrate the hydrogel in a stomach without inhibiting LGG release in an intestine.

-Produced Polyhydroxybutyrate/Eudragit FS Hybrid Nanoparticles Mitigates Ulcerative Colitis via Colon-Targeted Delivery of Cyclosporine A.

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) has emerged as a novel material for replacing various plastics used in the medical field. However, its application as a drug-delivery carrier for colitis-targeted delivery has not been explored. In this study, we used biosynthesized PHB combined with Eudragit FS (EFS) and cyclosporine A (CSA) to develop pH-responsive controlled CSA-releasing nanoparticles (CSA-PENPs) for colitis-targeted drug delivery and demonstrated its enhanced therapeutic efficacy in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced murine colitis model.

5-Fluorouracil crystal-incorporated, pH-responsive, and release-modulating PLGA/Eudragit FS hybrid microparticles for local colorectal cancer-targeted chemotherapy.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for colorectal cancer (CRC) owing to its potent anticancer effects. However, severe systemic side effects and poor drug accumulation in the CRC tissues limit its efficacy. This study aimed to develop 5-FU crystal-incorporated, pH-responsive, and release-modulating poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)/Eudragit FS hybrid microparticles (5FU-EPMPs) for the local CRC-targeted chemotherapy.

Hyaluronic Acid-Conjugated PLGA Nanoparticles Alleviate Ulcerative Colitis via CD44-Mediated Dual Targeting to Inflamed Colitis Tissue and Macrophages.

Although various local anti-inflammatory therapies for ulcerative colitis have been developed, rapid drug elimination from inflamed colitis tissue and off-target side effects reduce their therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we synthesized curcumin (Cur)-loaded hyaluronic acid (HA)-conjugated nanoparticles (Cur-HA-PLGA-NPs) that target inflamed colitis tissue via HA-CD44 interaction with resident colonic epithelial cells and subsequently target activated macrophages for ulcerative colitis therapy. The synthesized spherical Cur-HA-PLGA-NPs showed physicochemical properties similar to those of non-HA-conjugated Cur-PLGA-NPs.

On-demand reconstitutable hyaluronic acid-doped azathioprine microcrystals effectively ameliorate ulcerative colitis selective accumulation in inflamed tissues.

Although CD44-targeted delivery of pure drug microcrystals of azathioprine (AZA) could be a desirable approach to treat ulcerative colitis (UC), premature drug release and systemic absorption before reaching the colitis region remain a major obstacle. In this study, to overcome these limitations, we developed on-demand reconstitutable HA-doped AZA microcrystals (EFS/HA-AZAs) incorporating hyaluronic acid (HA)-doped AZA microcrystals (HA-AZAs) into a Eudragit FS (EFS) microcomposite. Since EFS acts as a protective layer, the premature release of AZA in the simulated conditions of the stomach and small intestine was substantially reduced, while HA-AZAs were successfully reconstituted from the EFS/HA-AZAs in the colonic environment, resulting from the pH-triggered dissolution of EFS.

Exfoliated bentonite/alginate nanocomposite hydrogel enhances intestinal delivery of probiotics by resistance to gastric pH and on-demand disintegration.

In this study, we developed Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG)-encapsulating exfoliated bentonite/alginate nanocomposite hydrogels for protecting probiotics by delaying gastric fluid penetration into the nanocomposite and their on-demand release in the intestine. The pore size of the bentonite/alginate nanocomposite hydrogels (BA15) was two-fold smaller than that of alginate hydrogel (BA00). Following gastric pH challenge, the survival of LGG in BA15 decreased by only 1.

Diethylenetriamine/NONOate-doped alginate hydrogel with sustained nitric oxide release and minimal toxicity to accelerate healing of MRSA-infected wounds.

This study demonstrates the development of a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing hydrogel wound dressing and its efficacy at accelerating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected wound healing. A DETA/NONOate-doped alginate (Alg-DETA/NO) hydrogel was synthesized using alginate as a hydrogel-forming wound dressing material and diethylenetriamine/diazeniumdiolate (DETA/NONOate) as an NO donor. Alg-DETA/NO exhibited a prolonged NO release profile over a period of 4 days.