gBiOT: A Dual-Action Nanobot for Oxidative Stress Neutralization and PEITC Delivery in Inflammatory Bowel Disease 

Description

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains a clinical challenge due to persistent mucosal inflammation and poor site-specific drug delivery [1,2]. To address this, we are pursuing a dual approach: (i) investigating the hormesis, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) in intestinal cells; (ii) developing a catalase-powered nanobot (NB) for site-specific delivery. Our in vitro studies on Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cells indicate that PEITC is non-cytotoxic at concentrations below 100 μM, and at a concentration of 30 μM, PEITC significantly reduces IL-8 secretion in HT29-MTX cells. In parallel, we are engineering mucoadhesive chitosan NBs, which are functionalized with catalase by biotin-avidin and designed for propulsion in ROS-rich inflamed areas. Our previous work with chitosan-TPP nanoparticles has shown successful encapsulation of PEITC [3]. Current NBs (~220–250 nm, ~+25 mV) exhibit enzymatic activity. Future steps include encapsulating PEITC in these NB and validating their performance in in vitro models of IBD. This strategy integrates ROS-scavenging and targeted delivery to restore mucosal balance and improve IBD therapy, reducing side effects.

Period	13 May 2025
Event title	2nd Young Scientists Intersociety Symposium: CRS YSC meets YSF-ESB, yESMI and TERMIS-EU
Event type	Conference