Hepatitis B represents a major global public health burden, which is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) with a high
infection rate. Although several anti-HBV drugs have been developed for clinical treatment of
hepatitis B, the current therapeutic strategies still suffer from undeniable adverse effects, insufficient efficacy after systemic administration and chronic
inflammation. Here, we develop a carrier-free
metal-organic hybrid nanoassembly that is co-loaded with
tenofovir (TFV), an anti-viral agent and phosphorylated
glycyrrhetinic acid (GAP), an anti-inflammatory compound (TFV/GAP/NA) to enhance the anti-HBV effect and alleviate the inflammatory response for
hepatitis B treatment. The nanoassembly is easily prepared through the ionic interactions between the anionic
phosphonate/
phosphate groups from TFV/GAP and the
zirconium cation, which has a stable nanostructure and a high drug-loading capacity. The nanoassembly prolongs the circulation time with reduced drug leakage in the blood and elevates drug accumulation in the liver after intravascular administration. After internalization mediated by the GAP
ligand-GA receptor interaction, TFV/GAP/NA disassembles by the
phosphatase-triggered degradation of the
phosphate ester bonds in GAP and releases TFV, GAP and GA within the HBV-positive hepatocytes. The released TFV interferes with the
HBV polymerase to inhibit the
viral DNA replication, while the released GAP and GA suppress the pro-inflammatory
protein expression. In mouse models, treatment with TFV/GAP/NA inhibits HBV production and alleviates
inflammation-mediated liver injury.