Biomimetic cellulose-based superabsorbent hydrogels for treating obesity

Abstract

In the treatment of obesity, nutritional and behavioral modifications are difficult to implement and maintain. Since vegetable consumption is a fundamental part of many dietary interventions and daily nutrient requirements, we developed a novel cellulose-based superabsorbent hydrogel (CB-SAH) platform, inspired by the composition and mechanical properties of raw vegetables, as a mechanobiological therapy. The CB-SAHs properties were studied in a simulated gastrointestinal environment, while their impact on gut tissue was investigated by an ex vivo organ culture (EVOC) model. Functional fibers and raw vegetables were used as reference. CB-SAHs demonstrated orders of magnitude higher elasticity in comparison to the tested functional fibers, however performed similar to the tested raw vegetables. Notably, the biomimetic CB-SAHs with elasticity levels similar to raw vegetables showed benefits in preserving and regulating the gut tissue in the EVOC model. Non-systemic oral mechanotherapeutics based on this technology were advanced through clinical studies, with a first product cleared as an aid for weight management in the US and Europe.

Current Role and Potential of Polymeric Biomaterials in Clinical Obesity Treatment

“…Specifically, “superabsorbent hydrogels” emerged as a relatively new category in obesity treatment. For instance, Plenity is a superabsorbent hydrogel that comprises modified cellulose cross-linked with citric acid. − When taken orally with meals, the capsule disintegrates to release thousands of dried hydrogel particles. After full hydration, the hydrogel particles become individual gel pieces with similar elasticity to ingested foods such as vegetables, taking up about one-fourth of the stomach volume to promote satiety (Figure ).…”

Highly Swellable Hydrogel from Neutral Hydroxyethyl Cellulose for Human Weight Control

“…CA was used to crosslink CMC through ester bonds to form hydrogels for drug delivery . Recently, CA was used to crosslink sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) through hydrogen bonds and ester bonds to develop an eatable hydrogel with the maximum swelling ratio to the dry gel of 80 (w/w) for treating obesity . However, the swelling ratio of the gel is not high enough.…”

Biomimetic superabsorbent hydrogel acts as a gut protective dynamic exoskeleton improving metabolic parameters and expanding A. muciniphila

“…Gelesis’s oral superabsorbent hydrogels (OSHs) are cross-linked cellulose-based materials specifically designed to provide a new non-systemic approach for treating obesity. 14 We recently showed 15 that OSHs, which are entirely based on generally recognized as safe (GRAS) building blocks, are engineered to mimic basic compositional and mechanical features of ingested raw vegetables, making them unique among the several available hydrogels. Taken as capsules prior to a meal, OSH products expand by hydration in the gastrointestinal system to reduce the caloric density of the meal and to increase the volume and the elasticity of the ingested foods throughout the digestive system, in a manner similar to that of raw vegetables.…”

“…In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of action of a new experimental OSH formulation (GS200) 15 with an elastic profile higher than that of functional fibers and of GS100, but similar to that of raw vegetables, in preclinical murine models of diet-induced obesity, MetS, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), studying the potential involvement of different systems and organs in an integrated manner. Here, we demonstrate that, by targeting the gut-liver axis, OSH is able to prevent and reverse MetS, limiting NAFLD progression.…”