- Researchers have made significant progress toward developing a long lasting treatment for type 2 diabetes by targeting reactive molecules in the liver.
- A new study shows that tiny biodegradable particles helped improve insulin sensitivity in the liver cells of humans and in diabetic mice.
- By using these nanoscavengers, researchers were able to decrease fat buildup and restore healthy blood glucose levels.
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is diagnosed when the body loses its ability to respond to insulin, which controls blood sugar levels. While symptoms are often manageable, currently there is no cure for this condition. Still, in some cases, type 2 diabetes may be reversible with lifestyle changes.
Existing treatments for type 2 diabetes primarily focus on regulating blood sugar levels.
Now, findings from a new study published in ACS Nano reveal that by targeting specific reactive molecules in the liver, it’s possible to reverse insulin resistance in both human liver cells and diabetic mice.
This breakthrough offers a potential pathway toward developing more durable treatments for type 2 diabetes.
Scientists have found that drugs called “mitochondrial uncouplers” can stop the production of these harmful molecules at their source, unlike traditional treatments that only clean up the molecules that have already been made.
Additionally, tiny platinum nanoparticles are very good at getting rid of reactive oxygen species, but they are quickly cleared from the liver due to their small size.
To overcome this, researchers developed a combined system using biodegradable “nanoscavengers” that can effectively target reactive oxygen species and potentially restore insulin sensitivity, offering hope for treating type 2 diabetes in the future.
The scientists developed the…
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