Microalgae‐Based Hydrogel for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Its Associated Anxiety and Depression

Patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exhibit a notable prevalence of psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Nevertheless, the etiology of psychiatric disorders associated with IBD remains uncertain, and an efficacious treatment approach has yet to be established. Herein, an oral hydrogel strategy (SP@Rh-gel) is proposed for co-delivery of Spirulina platensis and rhein to treat IBD and IBD-associated anxiety and depression by modulating the microbiota-gut-brain axis. SP@Rh-gel improves the solubility, release characteristics and intestinal retention capacity of the drug, leading to a significant improvement in the oral therapeutic efficacy. Oral administration of SP@Rh-gel…

• NU
  National University of Singapore
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 82271561, 81971667
• CP
  China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

  Award: 2023M733131
• NK
  National Key Research and Development Program of China

  Award: 2022YFA1104900
• MS
  Medical Science and Technology Project of Zhejiang Province

  Award: 2022RC024