Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a power metabolic dysfunction ensuing from irregular purine metabolism[1]. The incidence of HUA is on the rise globally, posing important well being considerations and serving as a serious danger issue for numerous power situations together with gout, kidney illness, diabetes, heart problems, and others[2], [3], [4]. Elevated ranges of uric acid (UA) result in HUA, primarily on account of extreme manufacturing or insufficient renal excretion[5], [6]. Due to this fact, decreasing UA manufacturing and enhancing UA excretion are two cornerstones within the therapy of HUA. UA ranges might be elevated via endogenous and exogenous components. Practically 80 % of the entire quantity of UA within the physique is derived from nucleic acid catabolism, with xanthine oxidase (XOD) enjoying a vital position in changing xanthine and hypoxanthine to UA, whereas the remaining 20 % comes from purine-rich meals[5], [7]. Insufficient UA excretion is one other contributing issue to HUA, through which about 70 % of UA produced by the human physique is excreted via the renal pathway[8], [9]. Elevated UA can result in numerous kidney-related pathological processes, together with renal inflammatory harm, oxidative stress, renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis, endothelial and epithelial harm, and apoptosis, in the end impairing kidney perform and exacerbating UA excretion-related renal dysfunction[10], [11]. The prevention and therapy of the illness have been severely uncared for as a result of HUA stays asymptomatic till the intense ache of gout emerges. Presently, frequent anti-HUA medication in scientific use embody allopurinol (a xanthine oxidase inhibitor) and benzbromarone (a UA-lowering agent)[12], [13], [14], [15]. Nonetheless, these medicines could trigger negative effects equivalent to liver toxicity, diarrhea, and immune responses. Due to this fact, there’s a urgent must discover secure and efficient preventive remedies for HUA.
Euglena (Eug) is a freshwater flagellated unicellular microalgae that displays each plant and animal traits[16], [17]. It’s generally used as a meals and dietary complement on account of its wealthy nutrient content material, which incorporates nutritional vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids. Moreover, Eug lacks a cell wall, making the micronutrients simply digestible and absorbable[18]. Paramylon, a novel β-glucan, makes up 30 %-70 % of the dry weight of Eug[19]. This insoluble dietary fiber aids within the removing of poisons and undesirable substances like fats, ldl cholesterol, and purines from the physique, because of its spongy molecular construction[18], [19], [20]. A earlier examine demonstrated that Eug has a wonderful adsorption capability for purines and might scale back human blood UA ranges[21]. Due to this fact, Eug is seen as a promising new practical meals that might probably function an intervention for stopping HUA, with translational potential.
Medicinal crops have been extensively used for illness therapy on account of their security and minimal negative effects. Luteolin (Lut), a flavonoid derived from crops, displays a variety of pharmacological results, equivalent to anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, anti-fibrotic, and immunomodulatory properties[22], [23]. Analysis indicated that Lut is a potent inhibitor of XOD, providing important advantages in decreasing UV formation[24]. Regardless of its promising attributes, the scientific utility of Lut was hindered by challenges equivalent to poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and a brief half-life[25], [26]. Due to this fact, overcoming these obstacles might tremendously improve the efficacy of Lut within the prevention and therapy of HUA.
In lots of power scientific ailments, oral drug administration is most well-liked on account of its comfort and patient-friendly nature. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of oral drug supply is usually hindered by the advanced surroundings within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, resulting in points equivalent to drug degradation, brief intestinal retention, and low bioavailability[27]. To deal with this problem, biomaterials like hyaluronic acid (HA) have demonstrated promising therapeutic potential in laboratory settings[28]. HA, an anionic polysaccharide polymer naturally discovered within the human physique, is extensively utilized in biomedicine on account of its glorious biocompatibility and capability for chemical modification[29]. Regardless of these benefits, conventional HA hydrogels endure from limitations equivalent to poor mechanical properties, lack of a 3D construction, and undesired degradation charges[30]. To reinforce its properties, HA might be chemically modified with methacrylate to create hyaluronic acid methacryloyl (HAMA) hydrogels, leading to improved chemical and mechanical properties that improve rigidity and viscoelasticity[31], [32]. HAMA presents advantages in biodegradability and biocompatibility, making it a priceless materials for utility in drug supply, cell transplantation, and tissue engineering[33]. By encapsulating cell-wall-free Eug and poorly bioavailable Lut inside HAMA microspheres, untimely removing of the energetic components is prevented, and the discharge of each the drug and algae is managed via the viscoelastic properties of the fabric. This managed launch mechanism extends the half-life of the substances, thereby enhancing their availability in vivo.
On this examine, an oral microsphere technique was developed by encapsulating Eug and Lut inside HAMA utilizing a microfluidic approach (Scheme 1a). These microspheres function a reservoir for medication and microalgae, and together with intestinal adhesion and digestive friction[34], the energetic components are repeatedly launched, successfully treating acute/power hyperuricemia with renal damage. The event of Eug/Lut@HAMA containing microalgae and drug mixture techniques reveals promising potential within the prevention and therapy of acute/power hyperuricemia with renal damage (Scheme 1b).
