Despite the medical advancement in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the long-term therapeutic efficacy of these treatments remains questionable due to the severity of adverse effects. Laying on the intestinal epithelial cells is a Glycocalyx coating that maintains the gut homeostasis. In an IBD patient, there is an alteration in the glycocalyx pattern on the epithelial cells, which allows the pathogenic bacteria to adhere to and penetrate the mucus layer. A study in Korea aimed to construct and evaluate the glycocalyx-mimicking nanoparticles (designated GlyNPs) in a mouse model of IBD. By attaching bilirubin (BR) to a library of glycopolymers composed of random combinations of the five most naturally abundant sugars, they develop different versions of nanoparticles that show anti-inflammatory properties in mice, and nanoparticles containing mannose and N-acetylglucosamine were the most potent. These two sugars increase the uptake of the nanoparticles through the activated macrophages in the inflamed intestine, and supported by the bilirubin, which effectively very efficiently inhibits the inflammatory activity of these immune cells. In addition, myeloperoxidase (MPO) was reduced with GlyNP_cd(MR) in mice, indicating that colitis can be alleviated by mitigating oxidative stress in the inflamed lesion. The scientists expected to extend similar studies in other organs and upscale the production of nanoparticles in the future.

Reference 

Yoo D, et al. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2023;62(34):e202304815.