The Pd(H)@ZIF-8@AP nanoparticle platform demonstrates a novel multi-targeted approach to H. pylori treatment by simultaneously eliminating the pathogen, reducing inflammation, and restoring gastric mucosal integrity while preserving beneficial intestinal flora. This represents a significant advancement over traditional antibiotic therapy by addressing antibiotic resistance and dysbiosis while providing superior therapeutic outcomes through pH-responsive hydrogen and zinc ion release at inflammatory sites.
Plain-Language Summary
Researchers developed a nanoparticle (tiny particle) system that releases hydrogen gas in the stomach to target Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that causes ulcers and stomach inflammation. In rat studies, the system was designed to stick to inflamed areas, release hydrogen and zinc to kill the bacteria, reduce inflammation, and repair the stomach lining—while leaving beneficial gut bacteria largely unharmed, unlike antibiotics.
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the leading cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. Antibiotics, as traditional method for eliminating H. pylori, have no targeting effect, which cause serious bacterial resistance and gut dysbacteriosis. Moreover, antibiotics can hardly address hyperactive inflammatory response or damaged gastric mucosal barrier caused by H. pylori infection. Here, we report a pH-responsive metal-organic framework hydrogen generation nanoparticle (Pd(H)@ZIF-8), which is encapsulated with ascorbate palmitate (AP) hydrogel. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that the outer AP hydrogel can target and adhere to the inflammatory site through electrostatic interaction, and is then hydrolyzed by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enriching in inflammatory sites. The released Pd(H)@ZIF-8 nanoparticles are further decomposed by gastric acid to generate zinc ions (Zn2+ ) and hydrogen, thus effectively killing H. pylori, alleviating inflammation and restoring impaired gastric mucosa simultaneously. Unexpectedly, this metal-organic framework hydrogen generation platform (Pd(H)@ZIF-8@AP) also has an inappreciable impact toward intestinal flora, which thus provides a more precise, effective and healthy strategy for the treatment of H. pylori infection. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
