Fishing out AIEC with FimH capturing microgels for inflammatory bowel disease treatment

Jialin Wu, Yutao Liu, Ruiying Liu, Changyi Xiao, Leyan Xuan, Lili Wu, Jiamin Qian, Xudong Qin, Yingying Hou, Maobin Xie, Xiyong Yu (), Bin Liu () and Guosheng Tang ()
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Jialin Wu: Guangzhou
Yutao Liu: Tianjin University
Ruiying Liu: Nankai University
Changyi Xiao: Guangzhou
Leyan Xuan: Guangzhou
Lili Wu: Guangzhou
Jiamin Qian: Nankai University
Xudong Qin: Guangzhou
Yingying Hou: Guangzhou Medical University
Maobin Xie: Guangzhou Medical University
Xiyong Yu: Guangzhou
Bin Liu: Nankai University
Guosheng Tang: Guangzhou

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic immune-mediated condition with rising global incidence and limited treatment options. Current therapies often have poor efficacy and undesirable side effects. Here we present a drug-free strategy that targets bacterial adhesion to manage IBD. We develop porous microgels loaded with mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) that mimic the natural binding sites of intestinal cells. These microgels attract adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) by interacting with FimH, a bacterial protein used for attachment, thereby preventing AIEC from colonizing the gut lining. The microgels are fabricated using an all-aqueous two-phase system, enabling biocompatibility and structural control. In a mouse model of IBD, this competitive adsorption approach alleviates intestinal inflammation, reduces harmful Enterobacteriaceae, and enhances gut microbial diversity. This work introduces a non-antibiotic, bioinspired method that intercepts pathogenic bacteria and restores microbial balance, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for IBD.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63276-7

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