Self-actuated probiotic-nanozyme hybrid system with mucus penetration, biofilm eradication and microbiota regulation for Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has emerged as a serious risk factor for global human health. Current antibiotic-based clinical eradication therapies still have many challenges, including inadequate drug permeability across the gastric mucus barrier, H. pylori biofilm-induced antibiotic resistance and recurrent infections, as well as gut dysbacteriosis. Herein, we report a probiotic-nanozyme hybrid system (LP@FeTA/CuPt), which is formed by coupling polyphenol-coated Lactobacillus plantarum (LP@FeTA) and CuPt nanozymes. LP@FeTA effectively penetrates the gastric mucus barrier via autokinetic movement, and facilitates the targeted delivery of CuPt nanozymes within H. pylori biofilms by "eating" extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). CuPt nanozymes respond to the acidic and H₂O₂-rich biofilm microenvironment to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and release Cu ions, thereby achieving multi-target eradication of biofilms by interfering with H. pylori flagellar self-assembly, urease activity, outer membrane function and energy metabolism. Importantly, LP@FeTA/CuPt can be degraded by transferrin at the infection site, allowing the released CuPt nanozymes to reactivate the antibacterial immune functions of macrophage, thus eliminating biofilm-escaped bacterioplankton to prevent recurrent infections. Notably, LP@FeTA/CuPt also modulates gut microbiota homeostasis. This study provides a promising non-antibiotic therapeutic strategy for H. pylori infection.