The treatment of obesity using magneto -mechanical effect

Abstract

Obesity is a very prevalent condition that can be very often associated with the development of comorbidities, such as insulin resistance, hypertension, and hyperlipidaemia that can lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The aetiology of obesity is multifactorial and may include overeating, hormonal dysregulation and genetic and psychological factors. It is associated with the presence of hypertrophy and hyperplasia of dysfunctional adipocytes, but its pathogenesis and related complications, have close connections with other cells in adipose tissue (AT), such as macrophages. Nowadays, treatment approaches include diet, exercise, drugs or surgery. However, although the former two approaches devoid of adverse effects, they are difficult to adhere to and obesity is therefore easy to rebound. On the contrary, the latter two, while quite effective, carry the inherent risk of complications that can even be life-threatening.

As a branch of nanotechnology, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have undergone extensive development and bearing significant relevance in the realms of science and medicine. Due to their distinctive magnetic properties, MNPs can be detected and manipulated using remote magnetic fields. They have been applied in vitro for separation and purification, immunoassay, catalysts, and magneto relaxometry. In vivo, MNPs are utilized not only for therapeutic purposes, such as during hyperthermia and as drug carriers, but also in diagnostic applications using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The experimental focus of this study is on the use of a technology known as Nanomechanical Magnetic Activation. This technology involves the application of low-frequency alternating magnetic fields on MNPs to induce cell damage. We aim to apply this technology to treat obesity by targeting adipocytes. The main objective of this project was to investigate the effect that MNPs could exert on adipose tissue, in particular macrophages, when treated by this technology. During this project the potential toxic effect of MNPs with different surface coatings, which is crucial for the future development of nanotechnology, was investigated on macrophages, platelets and red blood cells. In the investigation of platelets and red blood cells, no significant potential interactions were observed between MNPs with three different surface coatings and platelets at the tested concentrations, and only one of the MNPs had an impact on red blood cells at high concentrations. The experimental results show that, as expected, MNPs were internalised in macrophages, as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy, and that Nanomechanical Magnetic Activation is an effective method, to induce death cell in macrophages. Therefore it is highly urgent to further accelerate research on the surface coatings of MNPs to address different scenarios.