Thiolated chitosan/alginate/Emodin nanoparticles alleviate chronic kidney disease via gut microbiota regulation and intestinal barrier protection

. They also enhanced intestinal tight junction integrity and suppressed systemic inflammation. In a hydrogen peroxide-induced Caco-2 cell model, Emodin-NPs more effectively attenuated oxidative stress and apoptosis compared to free Emodin. The findings suggest that TCS/ALG/Emodin-NPs are a promising strategy for CKD treatment by reshaping gut microbiota and enhancing intestinal function.IMPORTANCEWhile the gut-kidney axis has emerged as a critical target in chronic kidney disease (CKD) management, therapeutic strategies leveraging this pathway remain limited. This study demonstrates that colon-targeted TCS/ALG/Emodin-NPs not only enhance drug bioavailability but also exert dual therapeutic effects by rectifying gut dysbiosis and reinforcing intestinal barrier function-key mechanisms implicated in CKD progression. The superior efficacy of TCS/ALG/Emodin-NPs over free Emodin underscores the transformative potential of nanoparticle delivery systems in overcoming the pharmacokinetic limitations of herbal medicines. This research opens new avenues for the development of microbiota-targeted, anti-inflammatory therapies that can complement existing CKD treatments and potentially slow disease progression in affected patients.