Bentonite-Based Functional Nanoclay Enhances Bacteriophage Therapy against Enteric Infections via Toxin Adsorption and Microbiome Recovery.

Biomaterials research · 2026 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 2393

Bentonite showed dose-dependent binding of ETEC-secreted proteins and OMVs, with near-complete OMV removal reported at 30 g. In mice, EC.W2-6 alone (MOI=0.1) or 8% bentonite alone each conferred 60% survival, while the combination treatment provided 100% prot…

Study snapshot

PublicationBiomaterials research · 2026

Study typeanimal

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Diarrheal infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pose a serious threat to human and animal health, driving the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. This study introduces a dual-action strategy that integrates bacteriophage EC.W2-6 with bentonite to enhance bacterial clearance and macromolecular toxin removal. Phage EC.W2-6 demonstrated high specificity against enterotoxigenic (ETEC) H10407, achieving nearly 100% adsorption to host cells within 15 min and a moderate burst size of approximately 80 plaque-forming units per infected cell. Bentonite exhibited substantial dose-dependent binding of ETEC-secreted proteins and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), with the 30-g treatment showing the highest efficiency. Nanoparticle tracking analysis confirmed a 3.56-fold reduction in OMVs at 5 g bentonite and near-complete removal at 30 g. Physicochemical analysis indicated a stabilizing effect of bentonite, showing that bentonite-phage association partially neutralized the phage surface charge (from -34.2 to -13.4 mV), forming a more stable colloidal complex with an approximately 2-fold decrease in colloidal size. In a murine diarrheal model, single therapy with either EC.W2-6 (multiplicity of infection = 0.1) or 8% bentonite conferred 60% survival, whereas combination treatment provided 100% protection with a synergistic effect. Microbiome analysis revealed that dual therapy restored gut microbial diversity and suppressed expansion, closely resembling healthy controls. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of combining bentonite with phage therapy as an integrated macromolecular intervention against ETEC-induced diarrhea and intestinal dysbiosis.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationMice (murine diarrheal model)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Bacterial clearance against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) H10407
Adsorption of ETEC-secreted proteins and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) by bentonite
Phage adsorption to host cells and burst size
Survival/protection in murine diarrheal model
Gut microbiome diversity and suppression of Escherichia expansion
Physicochemical properties of bentonite–phage complex (zeta potential, colloidal size)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Details on randomization/blinding and statistical methods not reported in abstract
Exposure/treatment durations and timing not fully described in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Mice (murine diarrheal model)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Bacterial clearance against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) H10407",
    "Adsorption of ETEC-secreted proteins and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) by bentonite",
    "Phage adsorption to host cells and burst size",
    "Survival/protection in murine diarrheal model",
    "Gut microbiome diversity and suppression of Escherichia expansion",
    "Physicochemical properties of bentonite–phage complex (zeta potential, colloidal size)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Bentonite showed dose-dependent binding of ETEC-secreted proteins and OMVs, with near-complete OMV removal reported at 30 g. In mice, EC.W2-6 alone (MOI=0.1) or 8% bentonite alone each conferred 60% survival, while the combination treatment provided 100% protection and was associated with restoration of gut microbial diversity and suppression of Escherichia expansion.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Details on randomization/blinding and statistical methods not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure/treatment durations and timing not fully described in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "bacteriophage therapy",
    "bentonite",
    "nanoclay",
    "enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli",
    "ETEC H10407",
    "diarrhea",
    "outer membrane vesicles",
    "toxin adsorption",
    "murine model",
    "microbiome recovery"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.34133/bmr.0310
PubMed: 41624179

Read the original paper →