Pickering emulsion stabilized by parasin I and chitosan nanoparticles enhances protection against intestinal microbiota homeostasis by reducing inflammation in peritonitis mice.

Although various researches evaluated the stability and drug loading efficiency of chitosan Pickering emulsion, few studies assessed the role and mechanism of emulsions in gut flora homeostasis. Thus, in the basics of our previously published natural and antimicrobial Pickering emulsions, the function of emulsion on the intestinal microbiota and inflammation response was explored in Kunming mice with peritonitis. The results showed that lipid/peptide nanoparticles emulsion (LPNE) and the chitosan peptide-embedded nanoparticles emulsion (CPENE) presented less collagen fiber than parasin I in peritoneal tissue, and CPENE could reduce peritoneal inflammation by decreasing the expression of NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3). The CPENE showed better histological morphology with a smaller fibrosis area in the spleen. Moreover, CPENE, LPNE, and parasin I-conjugated chitosan nanoparticle emulsion (PCNE) groups can increase the abundance of ABC transporters, DNA repair, and recombination proteins, and improve gut microbial. Furthermore, the Pickering emulsion showed a better protection effect on the composition and function of intestinal microbiota by decreasing interleukin-1β secretion and assembly of the inflammasome of NLRP3. These results could provide evidence for intestinal microbiota homeostasis of chitosan Pickering emulsion in inflammation-related diseases.