Hanyang University announced on January 17 that a research team of Hanyang University Professor Kim Yong-hee of the Department of Bioengineering developed a microneedle patch for anti-obesity and diabetes gene treatment.

Professor Kim Yong-hee's research team developed a self-assembled oligopeptoplex ("SA-OP" hereafter) by combining plasmid DNAs with PBP9R, a fat cell targeting non-virus gene delivering medium. SA-OP delivers plasmid DNAs only to fat cells by targeting prohibitin proteins that are overexposed on the surface of fat cells inside the body.

The plasmid DNA is DNA that has two kinds of shRNAs that can limit two fat acid-binding proteins (FABP4 and FABP5) within a fat cell. It is delivered inside the core of the fat cell by SA-OP and then creates shRNA that limits FABP4 and FABP5. FABP proteins promote the intake and accumulation of fat acid inside the fat cell and shRNA limits them so that it decreases the accumulation of fat acid inside the fat cell and normalizes intracellular lipid metabolism.

As a result, when one puts a microneedle patch with SA-OP into dietary-derived obese animal models, the research team was able to prove a meaningful improvement in weight decrease, insulin sensitivity increase, intrablood fat decrease, inflammation reduction, and fatty liver improvement.

SA-OP, a treatment based on genetic treatment is equipped with a bio-degradable microlock patch. Microlock is able to be fixed to the skin, unlike the previous microneedle, and its strength is that it can deliver the necessary amount of the medication. The research team was able to prove the safety of the SA-OP inside the biodegradable microneedle. Also, in comparison to the previous injection, they also proved the gene's safety and stability when it is stored for a long time, the team formed a stepping stone that can overcome the drawbacks of delivery and logistics-wise issues of the genetic treatment.

Professor Kim Yong-hee's team said, "It was a case that can prove that the adipocyte-specific inhibition of FABP4 and FABP5 is a next-generation treatment strategy that can revolutionize the anti-obesity treatment. The research result will be a drug delivery technology that can be applied to various metabolic diseases and we are also planning a clinical trial through continuous research and development."

This research result was published in a world-class academic journal 「Advanced Materials, IF 29.4)」 on January 11, 2024. 

Researchers Hong Joo-young and Choi Hee-gyeong of Hanyang University were the first authors and Ph.D. Shayan Fakhraei Lahiji and Professor Kim Yong-hee at the Department of Bioengineering were correspondent authors of the paper, 「Self-assembled Oligopeptoplex-loaded Dissolving Microneedles for Adipocyte-targeted Anti-obesity Gene Therapy」.