Engineers have created a tablet that delivers small robots, or microrobots, into the colon to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The experimental medication, administered orally, has proven effective in mice. It greatly decreased IBD symptoms and accelerated the recovery of damaged colon tissue while avoiding hazardous side effects.
Engineers from the University of California, San Diego have created a pill that delivers small robots, or microrobots, into the colon to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The experimental medication, administered orally, has proven effective in mice. It greatly decreased IBD symptoms and accelerated the recovery of damaged colon tissue while avoiding hazardous side effects.
The study was published on June 26 in Science Robotics.
Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from IBD, an inflammatory condition characterized by chronic gut inflammation. It causes severe abdominal discomfort, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and weight loss. It occurs when immune cells called macrophages become too stimulated, resulting in high quantities of inflammation-causing substances known as pro-inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines, in turn, link to macrophage receptors, causing them to create additional cytokines and sustaining the inflammatory cycle that causes IBD’s devastating symptoms.
Researchers have now created a therapy that effectively regulates cytokine levels. A team led by Liangfang Zhang and Joseph Wang, both professors at UC San Diego’s Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, developed microrobots made of inflammation-fighting nanoparticles chemically bonded to green algae cells. Nanoparticles absorb and neutralize pro-inflammatory cytokines in the gut. Meanwhile, the green algae use their inherent swimming ability to efficiently disseminate the nanoparticles throughout the colon, increasing cytokine elimination and aiding in the healing of inflamed tissues.
These nanoparticles’ effectiveness stems on their biomimetic design. They are composed of biodegradable polymer nanoparticles covered with macrophage cell membranes, which enable them to function as macrophage decoys. These decoys naturally bind pro-inflammatory cytokines without being stimulated to generate more, effectively interrupting the inflammatory cycle.
“The beauty of this approach is that it’s drug-free; we just leverage the natural cell membrane to absorb and neutralize pro-inflammatory cytokines,” says Zhang.
The researchers guaranteed that their biohybrid microrobots met stringent safety requirements. The nanoparticles are made of biocompatible materials, and the green algal cells utilized in this study have been certified safe for human consumption by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
The microrobots are contained within a liquid capsule with a pH-responsive covering. This coating remains intact in the acidic environment of the stomach but dissolves once it reaches the neutral pH of the colon. This guarantees that the microrobots are released precisely where they are most needed. “We can direct the microrobots to the diseased location without affecting other organs,” Wang told me. “In this way, we can minimize toxicity.” The capsule maintains the functionalized algae in liquid form until release.
The capsule was given orally to mice with IBD. The medication reduced fecal hemorrhage, increased stool consistency, reversed IBD-induced weight loss, and decreased colon inflammation, all with no apparent negative effects.
The study team is currently working to translate their microrobot treatment into clinical trials.
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (HDTRA1-21-1-0010) provided funding for this research.
Reference : https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240626152131.htm
