The fight against obesity has taken a significant step forward. A team of scientists has developed a method to deliver anti-cholesterol drugs directly to the livers of obese mice via a nanogel carrier, effectively reversing disease conditions caused by a high-fat diet. This discovery could mark a turning point in the treatment of related metabolic diseases.
The power of nanogels in anticholesterol treatment and in the fight against obesity
Obesity, as you know well, is one of the most serious health epidemics of our time. What if we could “reprogram” our bodies to fight this condition? Nanotechnology works to achieve this goal.
The research team from the University of Massachusetts Amherst led by the bioengineer and chemist S. Thai Thayumanavan has developed a nanogel capable of delivering a synthetic thyroid drug called thyromimetic directly to the liver.
These thyroid hormones play a crucial role in maintaining the metabolic balance of the liver. Normally, systemic administration of thyromimetics can reduce their effectiveness and lead to side effects.
Aim at the right target
The real trick is to ensure that the drug reaches the liver only. “We realized we had to give this drug selectively to the liver because if it reached other parts of the body, it could cause complications,” explains Thayumanavan.
Using mouse models, the team confirmed that their nanogel, with negatively charged surfaces, could be targeted specifically at hepatocytes, the liver cells.
Amazing anti-cholesterol results
After feeding thyromimetic encapsulated in anionic nanogels (ANG) to obese mice for five weeks, the results were remarkable. Despite a diet high in fat, sugar and cholesterol, the treated mice completely lost the weight they gained.
Even more impressive, their cholesterol levels dropped and the harmful liver inflammation totally disappeared. “We found that we are activating the reverse cholesterol transport pathway, which lowers cholesterol,” says Thayumanavan.
Beyond research
While the results are extraordinarily promising, there is still much work to be done. The transition from animal studies to human treatments requires further research and development. Thayumanavan and his team, however, are very optimistic about the prospect of developing a revolutionary anti-cholesterol treatment.
And not only that: based on the nanogel technologies developed by its laboratory, the team has the main objective of developing innovative delivery platforms for every type of drug, even existing ones.
Obesity may seem like a formidable opponent, but with the advancement of science and technology we will always have new weapons in our arsenal: always considering that the best anti-cholesterol treatments remain a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet.
