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

We used an experimental mouse model of diet induced metabolic syndrome to investigate the therapeutic potential and mechanism of action of a biomimetic cellulose-based superabsorbent hydrogel (OSH) in the context of metabolic disease and its associated disorders. Mice were preventatively and therapeutically fed (for 18 and 12 weeks respectively) with a high fat diet supplemented with different concentrations of OSH. Fecal pellets were collected at the end of the experiments from individual mice. DNA was extracted from fecal pellets and analyzed with whole metagenome sequencing.