Nanotechnology advances towards development of targeted-treatment for obesity

Obesity through its association with type 2 diabetes (T2D), cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), poses a serious health threat, as these diseases contribute to high mortality rates. Pharmacotherapy alone or in combination with either lifestyle modifcation or surgery, is reliable in maintaining a healthy body weight, and preventing progression to obesity-induced diseases. However, the anti-obesity drugs are limited by non-specifcity and unsustainable weight loss efects. As such, novel and improved approaches for treatment of obesity are urgently needed. Nanotechnology-based therapies are investigated as an alternative strategy that can treat obesity and be able to overcome the drawbacks associated with conventional therapies. The review presents three nanotechnology-based anti-obesity strategies that target the white adipose tissues (WATs) and its vasculature for the reversal of obesity. These include inhibition of angiogenesis in the WATs, transformation of WATs to brown adipose tissues (BATs), and photothermal lipolysis of WATs. Compared to conventional therapy, the targeted-nanosystems have high tolerability, reduced side efects, and enhanced efcacy. These efects are reproducible using various nanocarriers (liposomes, polymeric and gold nanoparticles), thus providing a proof of concept that targeted nanotherapy can be a feasible strategy that can combat obesity and prevent its comorbiditie

Systemic triglycerides as a key determinant of TLR regulated inflammatory risk in human adipose tissue post bariatric surgical intervention and weight loss

Bariatric surgery can lead to a quick reversal in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) status. However, despite this reversal inflammatory responses may still persist via activation of Toll-like receptors (TLR) within adipose tissue (AT); with triglycerides (TGs) noted as a potential mediator of such inflammation. Therefore the aims of these studies were to understand the impact of TG changes, pre- and post-bariatric surgery, on TLR expression in ex vivo AT and the in vitro effects of triglyceride rich lipoprotein (VLDL), on TLR expression in isolated human differentiated pre-adipocytes. Obese, T2DM, female subjects (age: 54.6±6.6 years, BMI pre (41.2±5.5 kg/m2) and 6 months post-surgery (36.05±5.16 kg/m2; n=30) underwent bariatric surgery (banding (n=8); plication (n=14); and biliopancreatic diversion (n=8)). Biochemical data and abdominal subcutaneous AT (AbdSc AT) samples were taken during surgery and 6 months post-surgery. Real-time PCR assessed TLR expression. Human differentiated pre-adipocyte Chub S7 cells were used to examine transcriptional effects of VLDL on TLR expression. Following surgical intervention, BMI (P<0.001), blood glucose (P<0.001), insulin (P<0.001), HOMA-IR (P<0.001), TG (P<0.05), cholesterol (P<0.001), and LDL-cholesterol (P<0.05) were significantly improved. There was a significant reduction in TLR4 mRNA post-surgery (P<0.01) irrespective of surgery type. It was also noted that subjects with the greatest drop (55.5% reduction) in TGs post-surgery (P<0.001) showed a significant correlated reduction in TLR4 mRNA expression (P<0.001). In vitro treatment of differentiated Chub S7 cells highlighted VLDL induced TLR4 mRNA expression (P<0.05).There is a reduction in AT inflammation as denoted by TLR expression. The reduction in AT inflammation appears dependent on how successfully subjects reduce their serum triglyceride, which is supported by in vitro studies. These studies suggest that bariatric surgery lead to metabolic improvement with weight loss, whilst dietary intervention is still required to ensure TGs reduce to reduce inflammation.N/