Nanocapsule-mediated sustained H2 release in the gut ameliorates metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is estimated to affect a quarter of all population and represents a major health threat to all societies. Yet, currently no approved pharmacological treatment is available for MAFLD. H-2-rich water has recently been reported to reduce hepatic lipid accumulation in MAFLD patients but its efficacy is limited due to low H-2 dosage. Increasing H-2 dose may enhance its therapeutic effects but remains technically challenging. In this study, we designed and synthesized a hydrogen nanocapsule by encapsulating ammonia borane into hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles to achieve ultrahigh and sustained H-2 release in the gut. We then investigated its efficacy in treating early-stage MAFLD and other metabolic dysfunctions such as obesity and diabetes. The hydrogen nanocapsule attenuated both diet-induced and genetic mutation induced early-stage MAFLD, obesity, and diabetes in mice, without any tissue toxicity. Mechanistically, we discovered that sustained and ultrahigh H-2 supply by hydrogen nanocapsule increased, among other species, the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, highlighting reshaped gut microbiota as a potential mechanism of H-2 in treating metabolic dysfunctions. Moreover, hepatic transcriptome showed a reprogramed liver metabolism profile with reduced lipid synthesis and increased fatty acid metabolism.

Automated summary

The hydrogen nanocapsule encapsulating hydrogen gas can effectively treat early-stage MAFLD, obesity, and diabetes by promoting gut microbiota balance and reprogramming liver metabolism.