Surfactant-tailored alginate/pectin hydrogel beads delivering polydeoxyribonucleotide for inflammatory symptom alleviation and gut microbiota regulation.

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition characterized by high incidence and severe detrimental impact, which strongly associated with excessive oxidative stress. Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), a natural bioactive compound with demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, presents a promising therapeutic candidate. To enhance targeted delivery, we developed surfactant-modified alginate/pectin hydrogel beads for intestinal-specific PDRN release. Comprehensive characterization revealed that N-lauroyl sarcosinate-functionalized beads (SNS-B) exhibited optimal drug loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency. The system demonstrated concentration-dependent antioxidant activity and excellent biocompatibility, confirming its suitability as an intestinal-targeted carrier. In vivo studies further validated the therapeutic efficacy, showing significant mitigation of inflammatory symptoms and beneficial modulation of gut microbiota composition. This work established surfactant-engineered hydrogel beads as a versatile platform for targeted IBD therapy, offering dual benefits of inflammation alleviation and microbiota regulation.