Alchemizing earth's legacy: Bismuth-engineered humic nanoparticles for IBD theranostics through mitochondrial anti-inflammation and sustained intestinal delivery

Humic acid (HA), a complex organic substance naturally present in soil, peat, and coal, is traditionally referred to as the extract of ''Wujinshi'' (乌金石) in Chinese medicine. It is renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and blood circulation-promoting properties. H...

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Main Authors: Ganglin Wang, Ziwei Wang, Lin Liu, Yejing Zhu, Jiali Zhong, Jiayi Zhang, Lingling Wang, Chenguo Zheng, Wei Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Materials Today Bio
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006425005186
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author Ganglin Wang
Ziwei Wang
Lin Liu
Yejing Zhu
Jiali Zhong
Jiayi Zhang
Lingling Wang
Chenguo Zheng
Wei Li
author_facet Ganglin Wang
Ziwei Wang
Lin Liu
Yejing Zhu
Jiali Zhong
Jiayi Zhang
Lingling Wang
Chenguo Zheng
Wei Li
author_sort Ganglin Wang
collection DOAJ
description Humic acid (HA), a complex organic substance naturally present in soil, peat, and coal, is traditionally referred to as the extract of ''Wujinshi'' (乌金石) in Chinese medicine. It is renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and blood circulation-promoting properties. However, its mechanisms and delivery methods require further exploration. We developed BiHANs, a novel nanoparticle combining bismuth and HA, which exhibits excellent biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. Orally administered BiHANs accumulate at inflammatory sites in the colon of DSS-induced IBD mice, as confirmed by CT imaging, and prolong intestinal retention. They significantly alleviate acute and chronic intestinal damage by suppressing inflammatory responses, modulating gut microbiota, and targeting macrophage mitochondria to inhibit NF-κB-driven cytokine production. BiHANs also maintain mitochondrial homeostasis and exert antioxidative effects. Furthermore, their performance in CT imaging highlights potential as a theranostic agent. This study demonstrates BiHANs as a promising platform for targeted IBD therapy and diagnosis, combining anti-inflammatory efficacy with imaging capabilities.
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id doaj-art-1bcc1324470145b7abff6ac1b37a1a58
institution OA Journals
issn 2590-0064
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Materials Today Bio
spelling doaj-art-1bcc1324470145b7abff6ac1b37a1a582025-08-20T02:23:11ZengElsevierMaterials Today Bio2590-00642025-08-013310194810.1016/j.mtbio.2025.101948Alchemizing earth's legacy: Bismuth-engineered humic nanoparticles for IBD theranostics through mitochondrial anti-inflammation and sustained intestinal deliveryGanglin Wang0Ziwei Wang1Lin Liu2Yejing Zhu3Jiali Zhong4Jiayi Zhang5Lingling Wang6Chenguo Zheng7Wei Li8Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, ChinaKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, ChinaKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, ChinaKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, ChinaKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, ChinaKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, ChinaKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, ChinaDepartment of Coloproctology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China; Corresponding author.Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China; Corresponding author.Humic acid (HA), a complex organic substance naturally present in soil, peat, and coal, is traditionally referred to as the extract of ''Wujinshi'' (乌金石) in Chinese medicine. It is renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and blood circulation-promoting properties. However, its mechanisms and delivery methods require further exploration. We developed BiHANs, a novel nanoparticle combining bismuth and HA, which exhibits excellent biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. Orally administered BiHANs accumulate at inflammatory sites in the colon of DSS-induced IBD mice, as confirmed by CT imaging, and prolong intestinal retention. They significantly alleviate acute and chronic intestinal damage by suppressing inflammatory responses, modulating gut microbiota, and targeting macrophage mitochondria to inhibit NF-κB-driven cytokine production. BiHANs also maintain mitochondrial homeostasis and exert antioxidative effects. Furthermore, their performance in CT imaging highlights potential as a theranostic agent. This study demonstrates BiHANs as a promising platform for targeted IBD therapy and diagnosis, combining anti-inflammatory efficacy with imaging capabilities.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006425005186Inflammatory bowel diseasesBiHANsROS scavengingGut microbiota modulationCT imaging
spellingShingle Ganglin Wang
Ziwei Wang
Lin Liu
Yejing Zhu
Jiali Zhong
Jiayi Zhang
Lingling Wang
Chenguo Zheng
Wei Li
Alchemizing earth's legacy: Bismuth-engineered humic nanoparticles for IBD theranostics through mitochondrial anti-inflammation and sustained intestinal delivery
Materials Today Bio
Inflammatory bowel diseases
BiHANs
ROS scavenging
Gut microbiota modulation
CT imaging
title Alchemizing earth's legacy: Bismuth-engineered humic nanoparticles for IBD theranostics through mitochondrial anti-inflammation and sustained intestinal delivery
title_full Alchemizing earth's legacy: Bismuth-engineered humic nanoparticles for IBD theranostics through mitochondrial anti-inflammation and sustained intestinal delivery
title_fullStr Alchemizing earth's legacy: Bismuth-engineered humic nanoparticles for IBD theranostics through mitochondrial anti-inflammation and sustained intestinal delivery
title_full_unstemmed Alchemizing earth's legacy: Bismuth-engineered humic nanoparticles for IBD theranostics through mitochondrial anti-inflammation and sustained intestinal delivery
title_short Alchemizing earth's legacy: Bismuth-engineered humic nanoparticles for IBD theranostics through mitochondrial anti-inflammation and sustained intestinal delivery
title_sort alchemizing earth s legacy bismuth engineered humic nanoparticles for ibd theranostics through mitochondrial anti inflammation and sustained intestinal delivery
topic Inflammatory bowel diseases
BiHANs
ROS scavenging
Gut microbiota modulation
CT imaging
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006425005186
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