'Green' nanotherapeutics from tea leaves for orally targeted prevention and alleviation of colon diseases

Menghang Zu; Dengchao Xie; Brandon S B Canup; Nanxi Chen; Yajun Wang; Ruxin Sun; Zhan Zhang; Yuming Fu; Fangyin Dai; Bo Xiao

doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121178

'Green' nanotherapeutics from tea leaves for orally targeted prevention and alleviation of colon diseases

Biomaterials. 2021 Dec:279:121178. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121178. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Authors

Menghang Zu¹, Dengchao Xie², Brandon S B Canup³, Nanxi Chen⁴, Yajun Wang¹, Ruxin Sun⁵, Zhan Zhang⁶, Yuming Fu⁷, Fangyin Dai⁸, Bo Xiao⁹

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
² Tea Research Institute, College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
³ Department of Chemistry, Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
⁵ Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
⁶ Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
⁷ Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China. Electronic address: fuyuming@buaa.edu.cn.
⁸ State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China. Electronic address: fydai@swu.edu.cn.
⁹ State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China. Electronic address: bxiao@swu.edu.cn.

PMID: 34656857
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121178

Abstract

Although synthesized nanotherapeutics (NTs) are attractive for the oral treatment of colon diseases, their clinical translations are constrained by the unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes, potential adverse effects, and high cost of mass production. Here, we report the development of tea leaf-derived natural NTs with desirable particle sizes (140.0 nm) and negative surface charge (-14.6 mV). These natural exosome-like NTs were found to contain large amounts of lipids, some functional proteins, and many bioactive small molecules. Specifically, galactose groups on the surface of NTs could mediate their specific internalization by macrophages via galactose receptor-mediated endocytosis. Moreover, these NTs were able to reduce the production of reactive oxygen species, inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increase the amount of anti-inflammatory IL-10 secreted by macrophages. Orally administered NTs could efficiently inhibit the inflammatory bowel responses, restore disrupted colonic barriers and enhance the diversity and overall abundance of gut microbiota, thereby preventing or alleviating inflammatory bowel disease and colitis-associated colon cancer. The present study brings new insights to the facile application of a versatile and robust natural nanoplatform for the prevention and treatment of colon diseases.

Keywords: Anti-inflammation; Antioxidation; Colon disease; Microbiota; Natural nanotherapeutic; Wound healing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Colitis* / drug therapy
Colitis* / prevention & control
Colon
Cytokines
Disease Models, Animal
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / drug therapy
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / prevention & control
Plant Leaves
Tea

Substances

Cytokines
Tea