Rhamnolipid/Fullerene Nanocomposites as Potent Radical Scavengers for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis Prevention: A Low-Dose Therapeutic Approach

As a common recurrent disease of ulcerative colitis (UC), acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) causes long-term pain and heavy economic losses to patients. Although fullerene (C₆₀) is considered an excellent antioxidant, its therapeutic application in UC is often hindered by absorption challenges due to intestinal mucosal damage. Here, we report the superior effect of rhamnolipid hybrid C₆₀ (RL/C₆₀) nanocomposites on preventing ASUC. Benefiting from their high hydrophilicity and uniform particle size, RL/C₆₀ shows a remarkable free-radical-scavenging ability in vitro, biological safety, and intracellular anti-inflammatory ability, which was better than those of the common medication 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). In vivo experimental results further demonstrated that prophylactic oral administration of low-dose (0.4 mg/kg) RL/C₆₀ successfully alleviated ASUC symptoms in mice to a level close to health by repairing intestinal mucosa and reducing inflammatory cytokine levels. Our findings highlight RL/C₆₀ as a promising nanotherapeutic strategy for preventing ASUC, offering a safer and more effective alternative to conventional treatments.