An orally biological chemotaxis-guided hypoxia-responsive biomimetic microcapsules for visualizing multi-faceted synergistic therapy of inflammatory bowel disease

Oral drug delivery systems have great advantages in the treatment of enteritis. Compared to free drugs, the drug delivery system protects drugs from damage to the complex gastrointestinal environment and improves bioavailability. However, the limited accumulation of drugs in inflammatory bowel disease restricts the efficiency of oral drug delivery. Here, we propose an oral administration strategy to restore intestinal homeostasis by targeting the regulation of intestinal inflammation through biomimetic iron-tungsten nanomedicine guided by biological chemotaxis. The microcapsules introduce a lactic acid bacteria membrane giving the Fe/W-MOFs excellent resistance to the harsh gastrointestinal environment and improving their retention in the enteritis site. Furthermore, inspired by the hypoxic environment of the intestine and the symptoms of inflammatory bleeding, the microcapsules can be degraded in an anoxic response and release the corresponding iron, tungsten, and 5-ASA to achieve anemia treatment, intestinal flora regulation, and anti-inflammatory effects. It is worth noting that the effective release of iron ions can also be used as an MRI contrast agent for imaging and monitoring of enteritis treatment. Therefore, the biomimetic microcapsules can effectively and accurately reprogram the intestinal microbiome through a multi-pronged comprehensive treatment such as eliminating pathogenic bacteria, improving anemia, and anti-inflammation, bringing extraordinary advantages for diagnosing and treating DSS-induced colitis.