Rhamnolipid/Fullerene Nanocomposites as Potent Radical Scavenger for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis Prevention: A Low-Dose Therapeutic Approach

As a common recurrent disease of ulcerative colitis (UC), acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) causes long-term pain and heavy economic losses to patients. Though fullerene (C ₆₀ ) is considered as an excellent antioxidant, its therapeutic application in UC is often hindered by the absorption challenges due to intestinal mucosal damage. Here, we report the superior effect of rhamnolipid hybrid C ₆₀ (RL/C ₆₀ ) nanocomposites on preventing ASUC. Benefitting from their high hydrophilicity and uniform particle size, RL/C ₆₀ shows remarkable free radical scavenging ability in-vitro, biological safety and intracellular anti-inflammatory ability, which was better than those of common medication 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). In-vivo experimental results further demonstrated that prophylactic oral administration of low dosed (0.4 mg/kg) RL/C ₆₀ successfully alleviated mice’s ASUC symptoms to a level close to health by repairing intestinal mucosa and reducing inflammatory cytokine levels. Our findings highlight RL/C ₆₀ as a promising nanotherapeutic strategy for preventing ASUC, offering a safer and more effective alternative to conventional treatments.