Innovative carbon beads, created by UCL researchers, have been shown to decrease harmful bacteria and inflammation in animal models. These are typically associated with liver cirrhosis and other significant health problems. The findings, which were published in Gut, indicate that the carbon beads, which have been licensed to UCL-spinout Yaqrit, were successful in improving gut health and had a beneficial effect on the liver, kidneys, and brain function in rats and mice. Furthermore, they were deemed to be safe for use.The next step is to determine if these same advantages can also be experienced by humans. If so, this could lead to using them to treat diseases related to poor gut health. It is estimated that there are approximately 100 million people worldwide living with cirrhosis of the liver, and 10 million of them have cirrhosis along with an additional complication. Professor Rajiv Jalan from the UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health explained that the impact of the gut microbiome on health is just starting to be fully understood. When the balance of the microbiome is disrupted, it can lead to health problems.”Bad” bacteria can grow and dominate the “good” bacteria that maintain gut health. This occurs through the excretion of endotoxin, toxic metabolites, and cytokines that change the gut environment to favor the bad bacteria and harm the good bacteria. These substances, especially endotoxin, can cause gut inflammation and increase the permeability of the gut wall, leading to damage in other organs such as the liver, kidneys, and brain.
In cirrhosis, a condition characterized by liver scarring, inflammation caused by endotoxins can worsen liver damage. This highlights the significance of maintaining a healthy balance of gut bacteria.The main method of treating cirrhosis is through the use of antibiotics, but this approach poses the risk of antibiotic resistance and is typically only used in the advanced stages of the disease. To address this issue, scientists at UCL and Yaqrit have developed tiny oral carbon beads with a unique microscopic structure that can absorb both large and small molecules in the gut. In a study, UCL researchers tested the effectiveness of these carbon beads, known as CARBALIVE, in restoring gut health and evaluated their impact on liver, kidney, and brain function in both rats and mi.
According to their research, the beads were effective in preventing liver scarring and injury in animals with cirrhosis when taken daily for several weeks. Additionally, they reduced mortality in animals with acute-on-chronic-liver-failure (ACLF).
In a study involving 28 cirrhosis patients, the beads were found to be safe with minimal side effects. If the same positive results seen in animal models are replicated in humans, the beads could be a valuable new tool in the treatment of liver disease.
Yaqrit’s Vice President and CARBALIVE product lead, Michal Kowalski, stated: “These innovative, engineered carbon beads are swallowed as a tiny carbon beads, which remain unchanged as they pass through the body, are smaller than a grain of salt. They function by soaking up endotoxins and other byproducts created by ‘bad’ bacteria in the digestive system, creating a more favorable environment for the growth of beneficial bacteria and contributing to the restoration of microbiome health. This helps prevent these toxins from seeping into other parts of the body and causing harm, as they do in cases of cirrhosis. The results from animal studies have been very promising, showing a decrease in gut permeability, liver damage, and brain and kidney dysfunction.”
These findings pave the way for further testing to assess the effectiveness of the carbon beads in humans, which is an important step forward.The upcoming study will determine whether the beads are effective in stopping or slowing the progression of liver damage, potentially making them a valuable tool for treating liver disease and other conditions related to poor microbiome health.
Professor Jalan, a Professor of Hepatology at UCL and consultant at the Royal Free Hospital, expressed optimism that the positive impact of these carbon beads in animal models will translate to humans. This is not only exciting for the treatment of liver disease but potentially for any health condition caused or worsened by a gut microbiome.There are health conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, that are becoming more prevalent in many countries. The study mentioned in the article started at UCL and has now led to the creation of Yaqrit, thanks to funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. This funding has allowed for the manufacturing of the beads and research into their potential uses. The hope is that these beads will be approved to treat liver disease and other conditions in the near future.This project has been granted funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 634579.
