We addressed Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract but most commonly involves the small bowel. In a substantial subset of patients, ongoing inflammation progresses to fibrostenotic or penetrating complications that ultimately require surgical intervention. Current treatment relies on systemic medications that suppress immune activity, yet these approaches often fail to achieve remission. These limitations underscored the need for a safe, targeted approach for localized treatment of limited small bowel Crohn’s disease (LSBCD).
We developed IleoBond™, a mucoadhesive biomaterial patch engineered for site specific delivery of the corticosteroid budesonide to the ileocecal region. We designed the patch to actively leverage the body’s mucus layer as a biological anchor, using a chitosan-based adhesive interface to promote prolonged retention at the diseased site. We coupled this layer to a diffusion modulated drug reservoir and an impermeable backing that enforced unidirectional transport into the intestinal wall. This design enabled sustained, localized corticosteroid delivery while minimizing systemic exposure.
We characterized the mucoadhesive layer using UV-Vis spectroscopy to confirm bond formation, with ex vivo adhesion testing on porcine intestinal tissue validating functional stickiness and retention behavior. We charac- terized the core polymer matrix through rheological analysis to define its mechanical properties. We conducted a complete study of the patch’s swelling to evaluate fluid interactions and their effects on dissolvability, while we assessed toxicity using fibroblast co-culture and XTT assays to evaluate cytocompatibility. Together, these results supported the platform’s potential for precision, site-specific therapy in inflammatory bowel disease.