Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Ulcerative colitis (UC) arises from complex interactions between genetic susceptibility, environmental triggers, and immune dysregulation, posing significant clinical and socioeconomic challenges. Current therapeutics cannot precisely target intestinal inflammation and cause deleterious side effects. Here, we investigate the local delivery of supramolecular anti-inflammatory peptide amphiphiles (AIF-PAs) as a biocompatible and comprehensive therapeutic for UC by administering these nanomolecules to an established IL-2 knockout (IL-2−/−) murine model that simulates human UC-like disease. Data derived from this study demonstrated that colonic lavage with AIF-PA1 and AIF-PA2 exhibit improved anatomical and physiological function including restoration of normal colonic architecture and transit times in the UC model compared to control groups. In particular, AIF-PA1 exhibited superior tissue repair characterized by enhanced epithelial regeneration, restoration of crypt architecture, and reduced inflammatory infiltrates compared to other treatments. Both AIF-PA treatments reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-1β up to 3-fold. Notably, AIF-PA1 resulted in a concomitant 5-fold increase in anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Altogether, this data demonstrates that AIF-PAs can target and repair several aspects of UC pathology serving as a potential novel therapeutic for precisely mitigating an inflammatory intestinal milieu.
Source: Engineered Regeneration
Language: English
Topic: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $700
Funders: National Science Foundation, Hartwell Foundation, Northwestern University, Dr. Ralph and Marian Falk Medical Research Trust, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems
OpenAlex ID: W7212371767