More Than Metal–Organic Frameworks: Intestinal Villi-Inspired Device as a Therapeutic Platform for Oral Enzyme Delivery

Macromolecules are fragile when orally administered. An intestinal villi-inspired metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)-based smart pill with multiple advantages is developed to offer a salubrious solution for oral delivery of enzymes. In the pill, MOFs accommodate enzymes as carriers exhibit excellent in vitro and in vivo catalytic activities with good oral biosafety, displaying supreme protection from degradation or inhibition in simulated gastrointestinal tract and high tolerance in simulated gastric acid and intestinal fluid. Moreover, the bioinspired pill possesses the morphology of the small intestinal villi obtained via an in situ moulding strategy for enhancing biocatalysis, which is attributed to the increase of surface area. Collaboratively, the adhesive layer renders increased smart pill in vivo retention, which is verified in pigs, providing a clinically translational and versatile platform for long-term oral macromolecule delivery.