Polysaccharide-derived nanoplatform alleviates DSS-induced colitis via NF-κB pathway inhibition and ROS scavenging

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease accompanied by excessive ROS accumulation and damaged intestinal mucosal barriers. Rutin (RT) exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects against UC, yet its extremely poor water solubility restricts oral administration. Herein, we fabricated dextran-rutin (Dex/RT) self-assembled nanofibers via hydrogen bonds, π–π stacking and electrostatic interactions to develop an oral nanoplatform for UC intervention. Mechanically, the polysaccharide nanoplatform blocks NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathways, eliminates excess ROS to recover intestinal redox balance, and reshapes gut immune microenvironment. Besides, Dex/RT repairs damaged epithelial barriers by inhibiting MLCK activity and elevating tight junction protein levels. In vivo experiments on DSS-induced colitis mice further validate its potent therapeutic efficacy against DSS-triggered intestinal injury. This sustainable crop-derived nanomedicine integrates anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and mucosal repair capacities, representing a promising biomaterial strategy for inflammatory bowel disease therapy and broadening the application of industrial crop bioresources in nanomedicine.