Description:
Reference #: 01219
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for Drug Releasing Polymer Implants for the treatment of Metabolic Disorders
Background:
Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. The current therapies for obesity are lifestyle changes including eating fewer calories and increasing physical activity, with medications and highly invasive weight-loss surgery being options if lifestyle changes are ineffective. However, despite implementation of these therapies there has been no significant decrease in the prevalence of obesity within the U.S. over the past decade. A solution to the obesity epidemic lies in the ability to manipulate gene expression in the adipose tissue, a major energy-regulating organ.
Invention Description:
Resveratrol has emerged as a promising therapeutic for obesity because, in animal studies, it mimics effects seen with diet such as decrease in body fat and increased insulin sensitivity. Unfortunately, treatments have poorly translated to humans because the drug is rapidly eliminated from the body. This inventor and his team have developed polymer implants; as resveratrol delivery vehicles. These drug delivery vehicles are implanted into the visceral fat tissue where they deliver resveratrol directly to the fat tissue where it can readily exert its therapeutic effects.
Potential Applications:
The implants will be used for the treatment of obesity and insulin resistance.
Advantages and Benefits:
While it is not fully known why these implants work yet, the research team hypothesizes that their efficacy may be supported by direct delivery of resveratrol to the fat tissue. Pills cannot achieve this because resveratrol is rapidly eliminated from the body after being eaten.