Slug-mucus-inspired single-cell coating enhances the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease by improving probiotic colonization efficiency.

The AC-EcN single-cell coating system was developed with a double-layer network structure inspired by slug mucus adhesive properties.

• The coating is described as 'biomimetic universal single-cell coated probiotics system (AC-EcN)'
• The double-layer network structure provides strong adhesion, durability, and self-healing after shear stress
• The design was inspired by 'the strong reparative properties and adhesive features of slug mucus'
• The coating was designed as a universal approach applicable to orally administered probiotics

The AC-EcN coating provided prolonged protection against gastrointestinal barriers for over 96 hours.

• Protection duration exceeded 96 hours against gastrointestinal barriers
• The coating significantly enhanced probiotic proliferation in the intestines
• Sustained cumulative effects were achieved with multiple oral administrations
• The coating system addressed 'significant survival challenges due to the protective environment of the gastrointestinal tract'

AC-EcN selectively aggregates in response to intestinal inflammation, amplifying the therapeutic benefits of probiotics.

• The system can 'selectively aggregate in response to inflammation'
• Selective aggregation was described as 'amplifying the therapeutic benefits of probiotics'
• This inflammation-responsive behavior distinguishes AC-EcN from uncoated probiotics
• The targeted aggregation contributes to modulation of intestinal inflammation

AC-EcN treatment modulated intestinal inflammation, restored intestinal barrier function, and altered intestinal microbial community structure in IBD models.

• The treatment 'rapidly restores intestinal barrier function'
• AC-EcN 'modulates intestinal inflammation'
• The system 'alters intestinal microbial community structure'
• The combined effects were described as 'fundamentally reestablishing a healthy colonic state and reversing IBD'

Oral probiotics face significant survival challenges in the gastrointestinal tract that limit their therapeutic efficacy for IBD.

• Probiotics are known to alleviate symptoms of IBD, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular disorders by modulating the gut microbiota
• The gastrointestinal tract presents a 'protective environment' that challenges probiotic survival
• Improving colonization efficiency was identified as a key unmet need in probiotic therapy
• The coating strategy was developed specifically to address these survival and colonization limitations

The single-cell coating strategy was demonstrated as a universal approach to enhance orally administered probiotics for IBD treatment.

• The approach is described as a 'universal approach to potentiate orally administered probiotics'
• The strategy 'significantly enhances the treatment of IBD'
• The system improved 'probiotic colonization efficiency' as its primary mechanism of enhanced efficacy
• The coating was designed to be applicable broadly rather than to a single probiotic strain