Oral delivery of pectin-chitosan hydrogels entrapping macrophage-targeted curcumin-loaded liposomes for the treatment of ulcerative colitis

The oral delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs has been a promising strategy for enhancing the clinical efficacy of ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment strategies. However, achieving site specific drug delivery to colon tissues and target cells is a challenging task for formulation scientists. In this study, macrophages-targeted liposome-loaded pectin-chitosan hydrogels were developed for UC treatment via oral administration. Folate-functionalized cholesterol was synthesized as lipid membrane materials for the liposomes containing curcumin (CUR). The incorporation of the liposomal CUR within pectin-chitosan hydrogels resulted in a matrix that exhibited considerable sensitivity to colonic enzymes during in vitro release. The targeted delivery of hybrids was able to effectively reach macrophages. They also showed enhanced capability to downregulate TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw 264.7 cells model. DSS-induced mice model   showed improved anti-UC effects, including accelerated mucosal repair and decreased inflammation and modulate the immune balance in the intestinal tissue of mice with colitis, which may be attributable to increased drug accumulation in the colonic lumen and improved internalization to target cells. Therefore, the incorporation of folate-modified liposomes containing CUR and pectin-chitosan physical hydrogels could potentially serve as a favorable approach for treating UC through an oral colon-targeted drug delivery system.