Does nanoparticle drug delivery offer hope to obese patients?

Researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have developed nanoparticles to deliver anti-obesity drugs. In a study using a mouse model, researchers were able to effectively deliver drugs which converted white adipose tissue into brown adipose tissue – thereby helping to burn off the fat. The drugs also increased vasculature to these areas, allowing for more drugs to be subsequently delivered to the correct areas, helping to avoid unwanted side effects in other parts of the body.

The researchers are particularly encouraged to know that they can deliver the drug to particular areas and have an overall positive effect. After treating the mice intravenously, it was noted that those on a high-fat diet lost approximately 10% of their body weight, with cholesterol and triglyceride levels also dropping. Furthermore, the treatment did not cause any side effects to the mice. Further research involves looking into an easier delivery approach of the nanoparticles, such as delivering them by mouth – something that has proven difficult in the past. Overall, the authors are reassured by their results and are looking forward to taking the research further.