Ultrasmall Cortex Moutan Nanoclusters for the Therapy of Pneumonia and Colitis.

Infectious pneumonia and colitis were hard to be treated due to tissue infection, mucosal immune disorders and dysbacteriosis. Although conventional nanomaterials can eliminate infection, they also damage normal tissues and intestinal flora. Herein, we reported bactericidal nanoclusters formed through self-assembly for efficient treatment of infectious pneumonia and enteritis. The ultrasmall (about 2.3 nm) cortex moutan nanoclusters (CMNCs) had excellent antibacterial, antiviral, and immune regulation activity. The formation of nanoclusters was analyzed from the molecular dynamics mainly through the binding between polyphenol structures through hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interaction. CMNCs have enhanced tissue and mucus permeability ability compared with natural CM. CMNCs precisely targeted bacteria due to polyphenol-rich surface structure and inhibited broad spectrum of bacteria. Besides, they killed H1N1 virus mainly through the inhibition of the neuraminidase. These CMNCs were effective in treating infectious pneumonia and enteritis relative to natural CM. In addition, they can be used for adjuvant colitis treatment by protecting colonic epithelium and altering the composition of gut microbiota. Therefore, CMNCs showed excellent application and clinical translation prospects in the treatment of immune and infectious diseases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.