A pH/MMP dual-responsive Bifidobacterium longum (BL) hydrogel (INPs@BL@Gel) functionalized with baicalin, tyrosine, and inulin is constructed. It enables gastric protection, inflammation-targeted release, and prolonged intestinal colonization. By remodeling gut microbiota, elevating beneficial neuroactive metabolites (homovanillic acid, short-chain fatty acids), repairing the intestinal barrier and blood-brain barrier, this hydrogel achieves synergistic multi-target therapy for colitis-associated anxiety and depression via gut-brain axis regulation. ABSTRACT Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are frequently accompanied by anxiety and depression, largely driven by perturbed gut-brain axis signaling. However, current oral therapies remain constrained by the spatial and functional separation between intestinal inflammation and central nervous system dysfunction. Here, we present a comprehensive gut-brain dual region integrated therapeutic strategy based on functionalized Bifidobacterium longum hydrogel (INPs@BL@Gel), in which baicalin and tyrosine are coordinated with Fe(III) to form infinite coordination polymers (ICPs), coated with inulin, assembled onto Bifidobacterium longum (BL), and subsequently encapsulated within a pH- and matrix metalloproteinase-responsive silk fibroin-gelatin hydrogel. INPs@BL@Gel exhibits high drug-loading, effective gastric protection, inflammation-triggered release, and long-term intestinal colonization. Within the inflamed intestine, BL and components synergistically suppress inflammatory responses, restore gut microbiota homeostasis, and promote intestinal barrier repair through multi-target integrated therapy. Importantly, BL combined with components markedly enhances the production of beneficial neuroactive metabolites such as homovanillic acid and short-chain fatty acids, which integratedly regulate neuroinflammation, preserve synaptic function, and facilitate blood-brain barrier repair via the gut-brain axis. In vivo studies demonstrate that INPs@BL@Gel not only exerts potent therapeutic efficacy against colitis and effectively alleviates associated depression, but also reshapes the gut microbiota and restores barrier integrity, achieving a remarkable comprehensive therapeutic effect.

Background Mastitis, one of the most prevalent inflammatory diseases in female mammals, causes significant economic losses in livestock farming. Notably, the natural flavonoid compound baicalin exhibits potent anti-inflammatory activity. However, its efficacy in alleviating mastitis severity and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unexplored. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the protective effects of baicalin in alleviating mastitis and its key molecular mechanisms. Results This study demonstrated in vivo that baicalin effectively alleviates mastitis symptoms in dairy cows and mice, primarily manifested by reduced tissue pathological damage, decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and maintain the integrity of the blood-milk barrier (BMB). Multi-omics sequencing analysis indicated that IL-17 and TNF signaling pathways play crucial roles in this process. Further studies demonstrated that IL-17RA−/− mice exhibited a phenotype similar to that observed w

Various natural drugs such as glycyrrhizic acid (GA), hesperidin (Hes), and baicalin (Bai) exhibit anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential but suffer from poor water solubility, short half-life, and low binding cap...

To determine the optimal dose of baicalin, cell viability was assessed using trypan blue staining with observation under an optical microscope, and further confirmed by MTT assay. The maximum non-toxic concentration (MNTC) of baicalin was determined to be 20 µg/mL,...