Inhaled aerosolized algal polysaccharides: A novel and reliable strategy for treating pneumonia through inflammation and oxidative stress inhibition

Sepsis-associated acute lung injury (ALI) poses a significant threat, characterized by inflammation and oxidative damage. Effective drugs targeting these aspects with reliable drug delivery systems are vital for ALI management. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of algal polysaccharides (APs) with aerosolized drug delivery in ALI mice and clarify the underlying mechanism. To induce the sepsis-associated acute lung injury (ALI) model, mice were administered intraperitoneal injections of 10 mg/kg LPS for 48 h in vivo. ALI mice received APs via atomization to arrive at different sites within the lungs. Lung tissue samples and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected to access lung injury parameters. Concurrently, western blotting, H&E staining, and immunofluorescence (IF) were applied to investigate the specific impact of APs on ALI. The results showed that APs protect lung tissue against ALI by inhibiting inflammation and mitigating oxidative stress-induced damage. This study highlights promising avenues for ALI intervention using natural compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.