Researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have created nanoparticles that have the ability to carry anti-obesity drugs directly into fatty tissue.

When overweight mice were given this new nanoparticle treatment they lost 10 percent of their overall bodyweight in less than a month without any adverse side effects.

The drugs work by reconstructing adipose tissue from its white form to brown. The diet drug researchers are using is actually not a new drug; it is the nanoparticle that they newly invented to transport the drugs to adipose tissues, and getting rid of the risk of side effects throughout the body.

According to statistics, over one third of the American population is considered obese. Last year, about 20 percent of the 600,000 cancer deaths in the United States were attributed to obesity.

Researchers found that nudging new blood vessels to grow helps adipose tissue change and caused mice to lose weight, yet harm for the body. So the team began to focus on nanoparticle delivery systems. When particles are sent to a specific location, a strong dose can be administered without unnecessary harm to surrounding areas.

Mice tested with this treatment not only lost 10 percent body weight; they also showed a decrease in cholesterol and trigylcerides levels and became more susceptible to insulin in 25 days.

The only concern of this new regimen is that it is only offered intravenously. This is great for morbidly obese patients but for it to be used on a wide scale, the team is working on an easier way to receive the treatment.