Professor Lee Sejung's Team at National Pukyong University Gains Attention for Developing Metformin-Based Colitis Treatment

Development of a Metformin Capsule
That Effectively Treats Inflammatory Bowel Disease
and Improves the Gut Microbiome

Professor Lee Se-jung's research team from the Department of Smart Healthcare, Human Bio Convergence Major at Pukyong National University (President Bae Sang-hoon) announced the development of a novel metformin capsule that is effective in treating inflammatory bowel disease and improving the gut microbiome.

Professor Lee Se-jung, in collaboration with Professor Choi Chang-hyung from Yeungnam University, published the research results in January in an international journal of chemistry/pharmacology (IF 10.5).

Schematic diagram of the action of metformin capsules on inflamed areas of the colon. Provided by National Pukyong University

The joint research team developed a pH-responsive oral drug delivery system by encapsulating metformin, widely known as a diabetes treatment, in a triple-layer hydrogel capsule. This system protects the drug stably in the acidic environment of the stomach (pH 2) while specifically releasing metformin only at the inflamed colon site (pH 7).

Through this characteristic, they confirmed that even with a small drug dose, the bioavailability within the colon is dramatically increased, effectively treating inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, it was demonstrated in an inflammatory bowel disease animal model that metformin can regulate pro-inflammatory immune responses and improve the diversity and richness of the gut microbiome.

Professor Lee Se-jung stated, “Patients with inflammatory bowel disease experience difficulties absorbing nutrients due to dietary restrictions, which interferes with blood sugar control and can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Although metformin is well known as a diabetes treatment, its potential as a treatment for colitis has not yet been properly highlighted. Especially, the capsule technology developed in this study will be a crucial breakthrough in solving the problem of drug degradation by stomach acid and digestive enzymes during oral administration, which reduces stability and bioavailability.”

He added, “This study not only presents new pharmacological possibilities for metformin but also serves as an important example of drug delivery technology for microbiome improvement and treatment of refractory colitis.”

Following this research, Professor Lee plans to continue developing targeted biopharmaceuticals (stem cells, peptides, antibodies) for specific disease sites using advanced microcapsule and microneedle technologies. Through this, he aims to treat metabolic, chronic, and refractory diseases and contribute to nurturing customized talents in the smart healthcare field.

Professor Lee Se-jung.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.