Microalgae-based hydrogel drug delivery system for treatment of gouty arthritis with alleviated colchicine side effects

Gouty arthritis (GA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals. Current clinical therapies fail to simultaneously reduce uric acid (UA) levels and alleviate inflammation. Previous studies have demonstrated that Euglena (Eug) polysaccharides can effecti...

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Main Authors: Xiaoyang Liu, Jia Dong, Zhongshu Wu, Jiarong Cui, Yixin Zheng, Min Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-10-01
Series:Bioactive Materials
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X25002154
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author Xiaoyang Liu
Jia Dong
Zhongshu Wu
Jiarong Cui
Yixin Zheng
Min Zhou
author_facet Xiaoyang Liu
Jia Dong
Zhongshu Wu
Jiarong Cui
Yixin Zheng
Min Zhou
author_sort Xiaoyang Liu
collection DOAJ
description Gouty arthritis (GA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals. Current clinical therapies fail to simultaneously reduce uric acid (UA) levels and alleviate inflammation. Previous studies have demonstrated that Euglena (Eug) polysaccharides can effectively adsorb UA. Colchicine (Col), the most prescribed medication for GA, exhibits anti-inflammatory effects but is associated with significant side effects. Here, we developed an oral microalgae-based hydrogel system (Eug-Col@Fucar) utilizing Fucar to load the Eug-Col complex, aiming to synergistically reduce UA levels and alleviate inflammation in GA treatment. Eug-Col@Fucar regulated release characteristics and enhanced intestinal retention, thereby mitigating the side effects associated with oral Col. The oral administration of Eug-Col@Fucar could inhibit the progression of GA by eliminating reactive oxygen species, reprogramming the inflammatory microenvironment to promote cell polarization towards M2-like anti-inflammatory cells, inhibiting the NLRP3-IL-1β pathway, and reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory factors. Additionally, Eug-Col@Fucar improved bile acid metabolism in vivo, alleviating the intestinal-hepatic circulation damage caused by Col. This study presents a safe, simple, and highly effective treatment strategy for managing GA and alleviating the gastrointestinal side effects that arise from the long-term administration of Col, demonstrating clinical practicability.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-10-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
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spelling doaj-art-dcf817572df34b18aec3e3c1d1a7d4d02025-08-24T05:13:35ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Bioactive Materials2452-199X2025-10-0152173510.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.05.021Microalgae-based hydrogel drug delivery system for treatment of gouty arthritis with alleviated colchicine side effectsXiaoyang Liu0Jia Dong1Zhongshu Wu2Jiarong Cui3Yixin Zheng4Min Zhou5Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China; Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China; Zhejiang University-Ordos City Etuoke Banner Joint Research Center, Zhejiang University, Haining, 314400, ChinaZhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining, 314400, ChinaZhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining, 314400, ChinaInstitute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, ChinaThe First affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, ChinaEye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China; Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China; Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining, 314400, China; Zhejiang University-Ordos City Etuoke Banner Joint Research Center, Zhejiang University, Haining, 314400, China; Research Center for Life Science and Human Health, Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053, China; State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China; Corresponding author. Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China.Gouty arthritis (GA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals. Current clinical therapies fail to simultaneously reduce uric acid (UA) levels and alleviate inflammation. Previous studies have demonstrated that Euglena (Eug) polysaccharides can effectively adsorb UA. Colchicine (Col), the most prescribed medication for GA, exhibits anti-inflammatory effects but is associated with significant side effects. Here, we developed an oral microalgae-based hydrogel system (Eug-Col@Fucar) utilizing Fucar to load the Eug-Col complex, aiming to synergistically reduce UA levels and alleviate inflammation in GA treatment. Eug-Col@Fucar regulated release characteristics and enhanced intestinal retention, thereby mitigating the side effects associated with oral Col. The oral administration of Eug-Col@Fucar could inhibit the progression of GA by eliminating reactive oxygen species, reprogramming the inflammatory microenvironment to promote cell polarization towards M2-like anti-inflammatory cells, inhibiting the NLRP3-IL-1β pathway, and reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory factors. Additionally, Eug-Col@Fucar improved bile acid metabolism in vivo, alleviating the intestinal-hepatic circulation damage caused by Col. This study presents a safe, simple, and highly effective treatment strategy for managing GA and alleviating the gastrointestinal side effects that arise from the long-term administration of Col, demonstrating clinical practicability.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X25002154MicroalgaeDrug deliveryColchicineGouty arthritisUric acidAnti-inflammation
spellingShingle Xiaoyang Liu
Jia Dong
Zhongshu Wu
Jiarong Cui
Yixin Zheng
Min Zhou
Microalgae-based hydrogel drug delivery system for treatment of gouty arthritis with alleviated colchicine side effects
Bioactive Materials
Microalgae
Drug delivery
Colchicine
Gouty arthritis
Uric acid
Anti-inflammation
title Microalgae-based hydrogel drug delivery system for treatment of gouty arthritis with alleviated colchicine side effects
title_full Microalgae-based hydrogel drug delivery system for treatment of gouty arthritis with alleviated colchicine side effects
title_fullStr Microalgae-based hydrogel drug delivery system for treatment of gouty arthritis with alleviated colchicine side effects
title_full_unstemmed Microalgae-based hydrogel drug delivery system for treatment of gouty arthritis with alleviated colchicine side effects
title_short Microalgae-based hydrogel drug delivery system for treatment of gouty arthritis with alleviated colchicine side effects
title_sort microalgae based hydrogel drug delivery system for treatment of gouty arthritis with alleviated colchicine side effects
topic Microalgae
Drug delivery
Colchicine
Gouty arthritis
Uric acid
Anti-inflammation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X25002154
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