Pusan National University announced on the 27th that a research team led by Professor Lee Se-jung of the Department of Smart Healthcare has developed a novel metformin capsule effective for treating inflammatory bowel disease and improving the gut microbiome.
The microbiome is a combination of the word microbe, meaning microorganism, and biome, meaning ecosystem, referring to the community of microorganisms living in our bodies. The human body houses trillions of microorganisms, with over 80% residing in the stomach and intestines.
Professor Lee, along with Professor Choi Chang-hyung of Yeungnam University, developed an oral drug delivery system that encapsulates metformin in a three-layer hydrogel capsule. The results of this research were recently published in the international journal of chemistry and pharmacology, Journal of Controlled Release.
Metformin is recognized as a representative drug for diabetes treatment. It is primarily prescribed alone in the early stages of diabetes, and additional medications are administered if its effect is insufficient, such as when the hemoglobin A1c does not fall below a certain threshold.
The oral drug delivery system developed by Professor Lee's research team is characterized by its ability to protect the drug stably in the acidic environment of the stomach (pH 2) while specifically releasing metformin only at the site of colon inflammation (pH 7). The research team confirmed that the system enhances the bioavailability in the colon for treating inflammatory bowel disease with a smaller drug dose.
Additionally, it was also identified in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease that metformin can regulate pro-inflammatory immune responses and improve the diversity and richness of the gut microbiome.
Professor Lee noted, "Patients with inflammatory bowel disease struggle with nutrient absorption due to dietary restrictions, making it difficult to control blood sugar levels, which can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. While metformin is well-known as a diabetes treatment, its potential as a treatment for bowel inflammation has not been properly highlighted."
He explained, "In particular, when administered orally, the drug is broken down by stomach acid and digestive enzymes, resulting in issues related to stability and bioavailability. This encapsulation technology will be a significant breakthrough and will be beneficial for improving the microbiome and treating intractable inflammatory bowel disease."
Reference Material
Journal of Controlled Release (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.12.041