Scientists have developed a gel-based carrier that delivers the drug to the liver of obese mice, after which their diet-induced disease symptoms disappear.
Previous research suggests that thyromimetics or The body Medicines designed to mimic the natural thyroid hormone obesity are a potential way to combat diabetes, which affects more than 10 million people worldwide and leads to other metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes.
Other scientists, including researchers at the University of Massachusetts, said targeted therapies could be important when using such drugs.
He said that if the drug was not delivered specifically to the liver, it could ’cause complications’.
So scientists worked to develop a new delivery platform for small and large molecules so that the drug reaches the right place in the body.
For the latest study, published recently in the journal PNAS Nexus, a group of mice fed a high-fat, high-sugar and high-cholesterol diet for 10 weeks doubled their weight compared to control mice. The group was fed healthy food.
Study co-author S Thai Theomanwan said in a statement: ‘We took a very simple approach using our unique invention, nanogels, which we can selectively deliver to different targets.
We have named this gel ‘IntelliGels’. They were custom designed for hepatocyte delivery to the liver.’
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The researchers packaged the drug into a nanogel and delivered it to the target by injection to obese mice daily.
Dr Theomanwan said: ‘The mice that underwent the treatment completely lost their weight gain and we did not see any adverse or side effects.’
The scientists explained that when the nanogel carrier reaches the liver cells, the body’s glutathione enzyme breaks the gel bonds, releasing the drug into the liver.
The drug then causes the cells to activate the thyroid hormone beta receptor, which decreases the level of fat molecules in the body, increases bile acid synthesis, and melts away fat.
The researchers found that after five weeks of treatment, the mice’s weight returned to normal even when they continued on their high-fat diet.
They also saw a reduction in the mice’s cholesterol levels and a reduction in inflammation in their livers.
Dr Theomanwan said: ‘We really wanted to find the influencing factors.’
He said: ‘We found that we were activating the reverse cholesterol transport pathway, a process that lowers cholesterol. We believe that activating fat oxidation and increasing metabolic rate lead to weight loss, but more work is needed to prove this.’
Although much work has yet to be done to develop the drug in mice and humans, researchers are hopeful that the treatment will eventually be available as a drug.
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#Weightloss #drug #invented #side #effects
**Interview with Dr. S. Thai Theomanwan on Breakthrough Drug Delivery System for Obesity-Related Diseases**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Theomanwan. Your recent publication in PNAS Nexus highlights an exciting advancement in drug delivery for obesity-related diseases. Can you briefly explain how the IntelliGels you developed work?
**Dr. Theomanwan:** Thank you for having me. IntelliGels are a novel, gel-based carrier system specifically designed to deliver drugs directly to the liver, which is crucial for treating obesity and associated metabolic diseases. By using our nanogel technology, we can ensure that the drug reaches its target effectively, minimizing the risk of complications that could arise if it were delivered elsewhere in the body.
**Interviewer:** That’s fascinating. In your study, the obese mice experienced significant weight loss after treatment. Can you share some details about the diet and the results you observed?
**Dr. Theomanwan:** Certainly! The mice in the study were fed a high-fat, high-sugar, and high-cholesterol diet for ten weeks, resulting in a significant weight gain compared to the control group on a healthy diet. After we administered the IntelliGels, the treatment group showed complete reversal of their weight gain, effectively eliminating the symptoms of diet-induced obesity without noticeable adverse effects.
**Interviewer:** It sounds promising, especially considering the prevalence of obesity and diabetes globally. How do you think this targeted approach with IntelliGels could change the landscape of obesity treatment?
**Dr. Theomanwan:** This targeted delivery system could revolutionize how we treat obesity and potentially prevent it from leading to diabetes and other metabolic disorders. By delivering drugs precisely where they’re needed—such as the liver—we enhance their efficacy and reduce side effects, paving the way for more effective therapies tailored to individual patients.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned earlier the importance of targeted therapies. Why is it critical to focus drug delivery specifically on the liver in treating these conditions?
**Dr. Theomanwan:** The liver plays a central role in metabolism, and many metabolic disorders are linked to liver function. If drugs are not targeted explicitly to the liver, they may not work as intended and could even result in complications. Our research emphasizes the need for strategic delivery systems to maximize benefits while minimizing risks.
**Interviewer:** Looking ahead, what are the next steps for your research and the future of IntelliGels?
**Dr. Theomanwan:** Our immediate focus is to conduct further studies to evaluate the long-term effects of IntelliGels and to expand our research to include human trials. We’re hopeful that with continued effort, IntelliGels could eventually offer a new treatment option for millions affected by obesity and related diseases.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Theomanwan, for this insightful discussion. We look forward to following your research and its potential impact on public health.
**Dr. Theomanwan:** Thank you! It’s my pleasure to share this important work.
