A cellulose-based hydrogel as a potential bulking agent for hypocaloric diets: an in vitro biocompatibility study on rat intestine

A number of over-the-counter slimming products are currently available on the market. However, there is no scientific consensus over their effectiveness in promoting and sustaining weight loss. The need to develop an alternative dietary supplement for the treatment of obesity and overweight makes attractive a polyelectrolyte cellulose-based hydrogel, crosslinked through a water soluble carbodiimide, as a potential bulking agent or stomach filler for hypocaloric diets. The hydrogel is envisaged to be administered orally to absorb water in the stomach, thus swelling and giving a sense of fullness, and to be finally expelled by fecal way. To this purpose, a preliminary assessment of hydrogel swelling capacity in distilled water has been performed, and the biocompatibility of the material with respect to intestinal tissues has been evaluated in vitro. The direct contact with the intestinal mucosa in vivo has been simulated by contacting the hydrogel with the jejunum tract of rat intestine, and the capacity of the material to maintain the epithelial barrier integrity has been monitored by means of transepithelial electric resistance measurements and lactate dehydrogenase release assay. The reported results evidence that the hydrogel is well tolerated by the intestinal tissue during the expected time of contact in vivo.