Using a gel developed by the University of Bern, the medicine can be applied directly to the inflamed intestinal wall. Patients with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammation, should be helped more specifically and with fewer side effects.
The new lipid gel remains in the intestinal wall and releases its active ingredient evenly, the university said. At room temperature, it is liquid and can be injected as an enema into the inflamed area of the colon. It forms a resistant and sticky gel at body temperature and remains in place for at least six hours.
Current medications do not achieve the desired effect
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight, and fatigue. According to researchers, medications, on the other hand, often do not achieve the desired effect, despite frequent side effects.
The researchers wanted to counteract this with targeted delivery. A medicine is generally most effective when it is administered exactly where it is supposed to work in the body. However, if it is ingested or injected, it spreads throughout the body. This increases the risk of undesirable effects.
After initial tests with artificial membranes and intestinal tissue samples from mice, the researchers tested the gel on live mice with intestinal inflammation comparable to ulcerative colitis in humans. To do this, they loaded the gel with active ingredients approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in humans. According to the University of Bern, the active ingredients are taken orally and have significant side effects when used conventionally.
According to the researchers, the health of the treated mice improved significantly during the tests. They had better inflammation levels than the control group and lost less weight. According to the University of Bern, more tests on animal models are needed before the first tests on patients can take place.