In vivo therapeutic effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging nanotherapeutics on dextran sulphate sodium-induced acute colitis model

• Published in: Biotechnology and bioprocess engineering
• Main Authors: Park, Ji Sun, Park, Kyeongsoon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 31.07.2025
• ISSN: 1226-8372; 1976-3816
• DOI: 10.1007/s12257-025-00217-7

Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and persistent oxidative stress can cause mucosal damage and epithelial dysfunction, accelerating inflammation and the development of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Thus, ROS-scavenging and anti-inflammatory nanomaterials have emerged as promising strategies for treating IBD. Herein, we developed ROS-scavenging anti-inflammatory tannic acid (TA)-iron ion (Fe 2+ )-quercetin (QCT) (TFQ) nanocomplexes via a coordination-based self-assembly process, and evaluated their therapeutic effects on dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis mouse model. The prepared TFQ nanocomplexes exhibited good colloidal and storage stabilities under aqueous condition. In addition, they showed excellent free radical- and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )-scavenging activities. Further, the cytocompatible TFQ nanocomplexes inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e. IL-6 and IL-1β), achieving remarkable anti-inflammatory effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophages and cytoprotective effects against H 2 O 2 -treated macrophages. Moreover, systemically administered TFQ nanocomplexes alleviated disease symptoms, including colon shortening and inflammation, in a DSS-induced acute colitis mouse model. These findings suggested that the ROS-scavenging anti-inflammatory TFQ nanocomplexes are a promising therapeutic approach for IBD therapy.