The specific lesion protein coronin adhering to the nanocarriers determines the in vivo delivery efficiency. Macrophages can coordinate the resolution of inflammation and mucosal repair, making them a promising therapeutic target in colitis. This study shows that the hydrophobicity and rigidity of the surface determine the intestinal protein coronin (C-IPC) specific to colitis for oral nanoparticle treatment of colitis, thereby improving the treatment efficiency. We demonstrated that high hydrophobicity on the surface enhances overall protein adsorption, thereby improving the delivery and therapeutic effect of colonic macrophages after budesonide loading. Additionally, the high hydrophobicity with rigidity enables the coronin cells to be rich in macrophage-targeting proteins, especially S100A8, forming the optimal C-IPC, characterized by high protein content and a high proportion of targeted proteins. Therefore, highly rigid nanoparticles more effectively reduce the inflammatory state and restore the immune homeostasis of male colitis rats. Our research has developed a rational strategy through physical and chemical properties, manipulating the formation of protein coronin through physical and chemical properties, to achieve efficient oral drug delivery, which has broad potential for various nanocarriers and pathologies. This study was published in Nature Communications under the title "Surface hydrophobicity and rigidity determine the protein corona on orally delivered nanoparticles for treating colitis".
References: DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-70453-9