Cerium‐based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as a sustainable approach to mitigating environmental stress‐induced intestinal ulcers in earthworms
Fatma El‐Zahraa A. Abd El‐Aziz, Hani Nasser Abdelhamid
Abstract
Exposure to environmental stresses such as heavy metal pollution, herbicides, and climate change may cause adverse effects on biological animals such as earthworms, leading to conditions including intestinal ulcers. This study outlines the potential of a cerium‐based metal–organic framework (Ce‐MOF) in healing alcohol‐induced ulcers in earthworms. The Ce‐MOF was synthesized via a solvothermal technique and analyzed using X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Ce‐MOF exhibited a one‐dimensional channel and demonstrated multi‐enzyme‐like activity. It was examined on earthworms suffering from ulcers caused by alcohol use. Examinations at a macroscopic level, histological analysis, and transmission electron microscopy images showed significant harm to the intestinal lining in ulcerated worms. The ulcer treatment with Ce‐MOF substantially enhanced intestinal morphology, repaired the epithelial lining, and facilitated ulcer healing. Furthermore, Ce‐MOF decreased the death rate and enhanced the weight of earthworms in comparison to untreated groups. This study emphasizes the potential of Ce‐MOF as an innovative therapeutic agent for alcohol‐induced ulcers, emphasizing its prospective uses in regenerative medicine and tissue regeneration.