Curcumin-Encapsulated Co-ZIF-8 for Ulcerative Colitis Therapy: ROS Scavenging and Macrophage Modulation Effects

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by the disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier. This study described the synthesis and characterization of CCM-Co-ZIF-8, a novel composite material with enzyme-like activities similar to catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. CCM-Co-ZIF-8 demonstrated the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species that play a critical role in UC pathogenesis. In vitro studies using lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells showed that CCM-Co-ZIF-8 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by promoting the transition of macrophages from an M1 to an M2 phenotype. In vivo experiments using a mouse model of UC demonstrated that CCM-Co-ZIF-8 suppressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. These findings suggested that CCM-Co-ZIF-8 might hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of UC.