Scientists have reversed diet-induced disease in obese mice by administering medication directly to the liver via a nanogel carrier, reducing the risk of side effects.
"We realized we needed to deliver this drug selectively to the liver because if it goes to other places, it could cause complications,"Thayumanavan and colleagues used mouse models to confirm that they could direct their carefully developed nanogel carrier with negatively charged surfaces specifically to cells in the liver, called hepatocytes.
"We came up with a very simple approach, using our unique invention – nanogels that we can direct selectively to different targets," ThayumanavanA thyromimetic called axitirome was packaged up into anionic nanogels and administered to obese and control mice daily for five weeks via abdominal injection. The obese mice had been fed a diet high in fat, sugar, and cholesterol for 24 weeks leading up to the treatment.
"We found that we are activating the reverse cholesterol transport pathway, which lowers cholesterol," Thayumanavan"We believe that activation of fat oxidation and an increase in metabolic rate are causing the loss in weight, but more work needs to be done to prove that point." After the ANGs get into the hepatocytes, axitirome is released when the environment in the liver cells breaks down the bonds in the nanogel. The drug then binds to a protein that helps regulate the expression of genes.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Breakthrough Drug Trial in Mice Reverses Obesity Without Affecting AppetitePhase 1 clinical trials are showing promising signs for a new drug that successfully reduced weight and fat mass in obese mice on a high-fat diet while not disrupting their appetite.
Read more »
New guidelines open up weight-loss surgery to more Americans struggling with obesityFor the first time in 30 years, the world's leading authorities have new guidance on who will benefit from weight-loss surgery. Doctors hope more people will take advantage of the surgery to bring down their heart, diabetes, and cancer risks - and to just feel better overall.
Read more »
New AI-generated COVID drug enters Phase I clinical trials: ‘Effective against all variants’Insilico Medicine recently announced that its new AI-designed drug for COVID-19 has entered Phase I clinical trials. If approved, it would become the first-ever alternative to Paxlovid.
Read more »
Greg Proops Provides Effortless Eloquence on His New Album French Drug DealGreg Proops' new comedy album French Drug Deal is more whimsical than his last, though he maintains his sarcasm and dry wit.
Read more »
Protein’s Pull: The Dietary Dynamics Driving ObesityGrowing Evidence Supporting the Protein Leverage Hypothesis The 'protein leverage' hypothesis suggests that humans consume more food when dietary protein is diluted, especially with modern processed diets. This behavior is increasingly seen as a major contributor to the obesity epidemic. Integrated
Read more »