Microalgae-based natural oral hydrogel system for synergistic treatment of lead poisoning-related diseases

Lead (Pb) is highly toxic to human body and can induce oxidative stress, causing irreversible hepato-renal and intestinal injury. Once accumulated, it is difficult to fully eliminate it from the body. However, the chelation therapy most widely used in the clinical against lead poisoning has severe side effects, such as oral dimethylaminosulfanilid will cause gastrointestinal symptoms, rash, and excessive deficiency of essential trace elements in the human body and prolonged treatment with it even has the disadvantage of causing kidney failure. Here we developed a multifunctional oral hydrogel system, BBR-CV@ALG, which composed of biocompatible carrier, Chlorella vulgaris (CV), anti-inflammation drug molecules, berberine (BBR), and stabilizer, carboxymethyl chitosan/sodium alginate complex, to adsorb and remove Pb in the living body, and alleviate lead poisoning-related diseases. In acute, subacute, and chronic models of lead poisoning, our microalgal gel has contributed to longer retention in the gastrointestinal tract to function the use of microalga in biosorption, effectively removing lead in the liver, kidney, and bone. Also, the BBR can be released to further reduce tissue damage caused by oxidative stress under lead exposure. Meanwhile, BBR-CV@ALG can also repair the intestinal barrier, significantly increase the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila and Lactobacillus taiwanensis, and maintain intestinal homeostasis. In addition, this system exhibits many advantages such as biodegradability, low cost, and high biosafety, demonstrating a potential for clinical application.