# An Engineered Solidified Peptide Hemocyte Sponge as Nanomotor Storage to Combat Bacterial Colitis

## TL;DR

A new peptide-based nanomotor system is developed to capture endotoxins and manage bacterial colitis without relying on structure-specific binding.

## Contribution

A novel nanomotor storage system using nickel-coordinated peptides and red blood cell membranes is introduced for endotoxin capture and colitis mitigation.

## Key findings

- The immobilized peptide nanomotor system effectively sequesters endotoxins and reduces colonic damage.
- The system prevents excessive pro-inflammatory cytokine release during prolonged infection.
- Nickel coordination stabilizes the peptide framework, enabling efficient bacterial and endotoxin capture.

## Abstract

The emergence of drug‐resistant bacteria has significantly heightened the urgency for effective interventions within the global public healthcare system. Furthermore, the structural diversity of endotoxins across different bacterial species poses a major limitation on the clearance efficiency of structure‐specific anti‐endotoxin antibodies. In this study, a peptide‐based material with membrane‐disrupting functionality is developed. The topological configuration of the peptide is immobilized through Ni2+ coordination, and the thrust force generated by a redox reaction is harnessed to facilitate deep tissue penetration and enhance resistance to oxidative degradation. Notably, it is discovered that the immobilized peptide‐based nanomotor storage system, coated with red blood cell membranes, can effectively mitigate colitis‐induced damage by concentrating and sequestering endotoxins while distributing the bacterial burden. This approach operates independently of molecular structure‐specific binding. Following endotoxin capture, the nanomotor storage system utilizes electrostatic interactions from immobilized peptide to adsorb endotoxins, thereby preventing excessive release of pro‐inflammatory cytokines during prolonged infection, ultimately enabling effective management of bacterial colitis. The top‐down fabrication of endotoxin storage materials presents a broadly applicable strategy against bacterial infections. The peptides immobilized via metal coordination offer an efficient pathway for bacterial and endotoxin capture, enabling the development of comprehensive storage systems.

Peptides immobilized via nickel coordination can stabilize the framework structure. Following coating with red blood cell membranes, these constructs are capable of continuously sequestering endotoxins and mitigating colonic pathogenic damage by alleviating bacterial‐induced ferroptosis.