Hawthorn carbon dots: a novel therapeutic agent for modulating body weight and hepatic lipid profiles in high-fat diet-fed mice

Abstract

Obesity, a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by excessive body weight and adipose tissue accumulation, is intricately linked to a spectrum of health complications. It is driven by a confluence of factors, including gut microbiota dysbiosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which are pivotal in its pathogenesis. A multifaceted therapeutic strategy that targets these interrelated pathways is essential for effective obesity management. In this context, biomass-derived carbon dots have emerged as a promising avenue due to their diverse biological activities and potential in nanomedicine. Our study presents the synthesis of multi-modal hawthorn carbon dots (HCD), employing a green hydrothermal carbonization method that diverged from traditional stir-frying techniques. This eco-friendly approach facilitates the preparation of HCD, emphasizing the role of sugar compounds as the primary carbon source in their formation. In vitro assays demonstrate that HCD possess potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which are crucial in combating the oxidative stress and inflammation associated with obesity. We further investigate the impact of HCD intervention in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model, employing both post-modeling and simultaneous modeling administration strategies. Our findings reveal that HCD treatment significantly reduces body weight and hepatic lipid accumulation in HFD mice, concurrently enhancing glucose tolerance and alleviating insulin resistance. Moreover, antibiotic perturbation experiments, complemented by bioinformatics analysis of colon microbiota, indicate that HCD substantially modulate gut microbiota composition. This modulation is associated with the amelioration of obesity-related conditions, suggesting that HCD may exert their beneficial effects through the regulation of gut microbiota, in addition to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. These multimodal mechanisms of action position HCD as a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of obesity, offering a novel therapeutic strategy that targets the complex interplay of factors involved in this metabolic disorder.