Gastric acid powered micromotors for combined-drug delivery to eradiate helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection causes gastric infections and leads to a range of gastric disorders, even becomes a predisposing factor of stomach cancer. Thus, the search for new therapeutic approaches to improve drug resistance and bioavailability of antibiotics has been considered urgent to treat H. pylori. Here we present the first design of an active drug combination therapy and responsive drug release to treat H. pylori based on self-propelled micromotors. This micromotor is consisting of a magnesium/gold (Mg/Au) Janus structure that loaded with amoxicillin and clarithromycin by asymmetrically coating in a pH-sensitive Eudragit (R) L100-55 polymer. The autonomous propulsion of the drug-loaded Mg-micromotors in gastric acid enables them to penetrate the mucus layer, actively deliver amoxicillin and clarithromycin simultaneously then release these drugs in a pH-responsive manner. Notably, the drug loading efficacy and release ratio of therapeutic agents is designed to satisfy the clinical demands. Due to the powerful mucosal penetration, the propelled micromotors exhibits enhanced retention and distribution capability than passive delivery system. Especially, the antimicrobial effi-ciency of the micromotors with combination drug therapy against H. pylori is significantly improved compared to single-drug loaded micromotors. The optimized dosage ratio of two therapeutic agents on the micromotors is determined to be 2:1 of amoxicillin and clarithromycin. With the merits of self-propulsion, good biocompatibility and biodegradability, our proposed combined-drug delivery Mg-based micromotor will offer a promising future for the active treatment of bacterial infections.

Automated summary

We designed an active drug combination therapy and responsive drug release for Helicobacter pylori using self-propelled micromotors. These micromotors can penetrate the mucus layer, deliver amoxicillin and clarithromycin, and release them in a pH-responsive manner. The micromotors showed enhanced retention and distribution capability, and significantly improved antimicrobial efficiency compared to single-drug loaded micromotors. The optimized dosage ratio of amoxicillin and clarithromycin on the micromotors was determined to be 2:1.