Multi-Component Functionalized Bifidobacterium Longum Hydrogel for Multi-Target Integrated Therapy of Colitis-Associated Anxiety and Depression

Adv Sci (Weinh). 2026 Jun 22:e76242. doi: 10.1002/advs.76242. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are frequently accompanied by anxiety and depression, largely driven by perturbed gut-brain axis signaling. However, current oral therapies remain constrained by the spatial and functional separation between intestinal inflammation and central nervous system dysfunction. Here, we present a comprehensive gut-brain dual region integrated therapeutic strategy based on functionalized Bifidobacterium longum hydrogel (INPs@BL@Gel), in which baicalin and tyrosine are coordinated with Fe(III) to form infinite coordination polymers (ICPs), coated with inulin, assembled onto Bifidobacterium longum (BL), and subsequently encapsulated within a pH- and matrix metalloproteinase-responsive silk fibroin-gelatin hydrogel. INPs@BL@Gel exhibits high drug-loading, effective gastric protection, inflammation-triggered release, and long-term intestinal colonization. Within the inflamed intestine, BL and components synergistically suppress inflammatory responses, restore gut microbiota homeostasis, and promote intestinal barrier repair through multi-target integrated therapy. Importantly, BL combined with components markedly enhances the production of beneficial neuroactive metabolites such as homovanillic acid and short-chain fatty acids, which integratedly regulate neuroinflammation, preserve synaptic function, and facilitate blood-brain barrier repair via the gut-brain axis. In vivo studies demonstrate that INPs@BL@Gel not only exerts potent therapeutic efficacy against colitis and effectively alleviates associated depression, but also reshapes the gut microbiota and restores barrier integrity, achieving a remarkable comprehensive therapeutic effect.

PMID:42330359 | DOI:10.1002/advs.76242