Copper-Bearing Metal-Organic Framework with Mucus-Penetrating Function for the Multi-Effective Clearance of Mucosal Colonized Helicobacter pylori

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori colonizes over 50% of people worldwide. Biofilm formation through penetrating gastric mucus and resistance acquired by H. pylori markedly reduces the efficacy of traditional antibiotics. The present triple therapy and bismuth-based quadruple therapy inevitably causes intestinal flora disturbance and fails to address the excessive H. pylori-triggered inflammatory response. Herein, a mucus-permeable therapeutic platform (Cu-MOF@NF) that consists of copper-bearing metal-organic framework (Cu-MOF) loaded with nitrogen-doped carbon dots and naturally active polysaccharide fucoidan is developed. The experimental results demonstrate that Cu-MOF@NF can penetrate the mucus layer and hinder H. pylori from adhering on gastric epithelial cells of the stomach. Notably, released Cu2+ can degrade the polysaccharides in the biofilm and interfere with the cyclic growing mode of “bacterioplankton ↔ biofilm”, thereby preventing recurrent and persistent infection. Compared with traditional triple therapy, the Cu-MOF@NF not only possesses impressive antibacterial effect (even include multidrug-resistant strains), but also improves the inflammatory microenvironment without disrupting the balance of intestinal flora, providing a more efficient, safe, and antibiotic-free new approach to eradicating H. pylori.