A Comparison of the Use of In-situ Gels and Oral Sulfasalazine in the Treatment of Colitis
Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation, cilt.21, sa.5, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 21 Sayı: 5
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s12247-026-10709-5
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, INSPEC
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Apoptosis, Drug delivery, In-situ gel, Inflammation, Sulfasalazine, Ulcerative colitis
- Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Aim: This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of a sulfasalazine-loaded thermoresponsive in-situ gel with orally administered sulfasalazine in an acetic acid–induced rat colitis model, focusing on mucosal healing, inflammatory regulation, and apoptotic pathways. Materials and methods: Colitis was induced in Wistar albino rats by intrarectal administration of 4% acetic acid. Animals were assigned to four groups: Control, Colitis, Colitis + Oral Sulfasalazine (100 mg/kg), and Colitis + In-Situ Gel. The in-situ gel was formulated with poloxamer 407, hyaluronic acid, and sulfasalazine. In vitro characterization included pH, gelation temperature, viscosity, rheology, and drug-release behavior. After 7 days of treatment, colon tissues were harvested for macroscopic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses (Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Caspase-3 (Cas-3)). Gene-expression profiles of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Bcl-2 Associated X-protein (Bax), and B-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) were assessed via RT-qPCR. Results: In vitro studies confirmed optimal gelation behavior and sustained drug release. Oral and gel treatments both reduced epithelial injury; however, the in-situ gel produced markedly superior mucosal preservation, reduced inflammatory infiltration, and lower TNF-α, IL-1β, and Cas-3 immunoreactivity. Gene-expression analysis showed significant reductions in Bax and IL-6, within the gel group. Conclusions: Sulfasalazine-loaded in-situ gel demonstrated superior anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and mucosal reparative effects compared with oral sulfasalazine. These findings support thermoresponsive in-situ gels as a promising localized therapeutic strategy for ulcerative colitis.