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Context: As a glucocorticoid drug, dexamethasone has good therapeutic effects for ulcerative colitis. pH-sensitive hydrogels could make conventional changes of volume in response with different pH values. Meanwhile, they could load drugs depending on its internal three-dimensional network structure. Objective: Appropriate methods were used to improve the drug-loading capacity of hydrogel and exploring the colon-targeting character of dexamethasone hydrogel. Materials and methods: Different solvents (ethanol and 1,2-propanediol) were employed to dissolve dexamethasone as well as hydrogel monomer materials (poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (MPEG)–poly(lactide acid)–acryloyl chloride macromonomer, itaconic acid (IA) and MPEG–methacrylate), then mixing them together to prepare hydrogel through the heat-initiated free radical polymerization method. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction methods were used to verify whether dexamethasone was loaded into hydrogels.In vitrodrug release behavior andin vivopharmacokinetic study were also investigated in detail. Results: Dexamethasone was successfully loaded into hydrogel, and its loading capacity was improved (5 mg/g). Both thein vitrorelease study and thein vivopharmacokinetic study showed the good colon-targeting character of the pH-sensitive P(LE–IA–MEG) hydrogel (Tmax = 1.0 h, Cmax = 2.16 µg/ml of dexamethasone; Tmax = 3.9 h, Cmax = 0.43 µg/ml of dexamethasone hydrogel). Discussion: Dexamethasone could be targeted to the colon site by P(LE–IA–MEG) hydrogel, thereby improving its therapeutic effect and reduce its side effects. Conclusion: P(LE–IA–MEG) hydrogel might have great potential application in colon-targeted drug delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the biocompatibility and macrophage targeting of natural polysaccharides, combined with the physiological and pathological characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract and colonic mucosa of ulcerative colitis (UC), we prepare dexamethasone (Dex)-loaded oral colon-targeted nano-in-micro drug delivery systems coated with multilayers of chitosan (CS), hyaluronic acid (HA), and finally Eudragit S100 (ECHCD MPs) using a layer-by-layer coating technique for UC treatment through regulating the M1/M2 polarization of intestinal macrophages. HA/CS/Dex nanoparticles (HCD NPs) are ingested by macrophages via CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis to regulate M1-to-M2 macrophage polarization and exert anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, ECHCD MPs show better colon-targeting properties than Dex-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CD NPs) and HCD NPs which is demonstrated by stronger mucoadhesion to inflamed colon tissues. After oral administration, ECHCD MPs exert significant anti-UC effects. Therefore, ECHCD MPs are proven to be as promising oral colon-targeting drug delivery systems for Dex and have potential application in UC treatment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]