Oral Microspheres Deliver Cecropin and Eugenol to Combat Sepsis Inflammation

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body's overwhelming response to infection, leading to widespread inflammation and organ damage. Current treatments often fall short, highlighting an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies that can effectively modulate the inflammatory cascade. This study investigates the efficacy of a novel oral pH-responsive delivery system for co-administering anti-inflammatory agents to improve outcomes in sepsis.

The developed microspheres demonstrated excellent pH-responsive release, with over 90% of both cecropin and eugenol released at pH 6.8 (simulating intestinal conditions) within 6 hours. In the septic mouse model, treatment with the co-delivered microspheres significantly attenuated systemic inflammation. The oral microsphere treatment led to a remarkable 48% reduction in circulating IL-6 levels and a 42% decrease in TNF-α compared to untreated septic controls (p<0.001). Furthermore, the treated group exhibited a significant improvement in survival, increasing from 25% in untreated septic mice to 70% (p<0.01). Histopathological analysis revealed a 2.7-fold decrease in neutrophil infiltration and a 3.1-fold reduction in tissue damage scores in the liver and kidneys of treated animals, alongside a 35% reduction in serum creatinine and ALT levels, indicating substantial organ protection.