Verapamil-loaded supramolecular hydrogel patch attenuates metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease via restoration of autophagic clearance of aggregated proteins and inhibition of NLRP3

• Published in: Biomaterials research Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 4 - 21
• Main Authors: Kim, Do Kyung, Han, Daewon, Bae, Jeongyun, Kim, Haeil, Lee, Solji, Kim, Jong-Seok, Jeong, Young-Gil, Shin, Jongdae, Park, Hwan-Woo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 20.01.2023; BioMed Central Ltd; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); 한국생체재료학회
• Subjects: Alcohol; Autophagic clearance; Autophagy; Bioavailability; Biomaterials; Biomimetics; Calcium channels; Calcium channels (L-type); Carboxymethyl pullulan; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chronic diseases; Citric acid; Complications and side effects; Dermis; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diet; Drug approval; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Fatty liver; Glucose tolerance; Glycerin; Glycerol; Homeostasis; Hydrogel; Hydrogels; Hypertension; Inflammasome; Inflammasomes; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Liver diseases; Materials Science; Metabolic associated fatty liver disease; Metabolism; Obesity; Patient compliance; Polysaccharides; Proteins; Public health; Pyrin protein; Research Article; Scientific equipment and supplies industry; Stratum corneum; Toxicity; Transdermal delivery; Transdermal medication; Type 2 diabetes; Verapamil; Weight control; 의공학; United States; South Korea; Germany; United States > US; Metabolic associated fatty liver disease; Transdermal delivery; Inflammasome; Hydrogel; Carboxymethyl pullulan; Autophagic clearance
• ISSN: 2055-7124; 1226-4601; 2055-7124
• DOI: 10.1186/s40824-023-00342-5

Background Obesity, a serious threat to public health, is linked to chronic metabolic complications including insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Current obesity medications are challenged by poor effectiveness, poor patient compliance, and potential side effects. Verapamil is an inhibitor of L-type calcium channels, FDA-approved for the treatment of hypertension. We previously investigated the effect of verapamil on modulating autophagy to treat obesity-associated lipotoxicity. This study aims to develop a verapamil transdermal patch and to evaluate its anti-obesity effects. Methods Verapamil is loaded in biomimetic vascular bundle-like carboxymethyl pullulan-based supramolecular hydrogel patches cross-linked with citric acid and glycerol linkages (CLCMP). The investigation was then carried out to determine the therapeutic effect of verapamil-loaded CLCMP (Vera@CLCMP) on diet-induced obese mice. Results Vera@CLCMP hydrogel patches with hierarchically organized and anisotropic pore structures not only improved verapamil bioavailability without modifying its chemical structure but also enhanced verapamil release through the stratum corneum barrier. Vera@CLCMP patches exhibit low toxicity and high effectiveness at delivering verapamil into the systemic circulation through the dermis in a sustained manner. Specifically, transdermal administration of this patch into diet-induced obese mice drastically improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity and alleviated metabolic derangements associated with MAFLD. Furthermore, we uncovered a distinct molecular mechanism underlying the anti-obesity effects associated with the hepatic NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and autophagic clearance by the vera@CLCMP hydrogel patches. Conclusion The current study provides promising drug delivery platforms for long-term family treatment of chronic diseases, including obesity and metabolic dysfunctions.