There are two kinds of fats in the human body: white fat, which stores excess energy and leads to weight gain; Brown fat consumes energy and helps curb obesity.

Newborns have more brown fat because it can consume energy and generate heat, thus helping them to resist the cold, but adults have less brown fat.

For several years, researchers have been trying to find a way to convert adult white fat into brown fat, a process called "browning", which is used to treat obesity and diabetes. Recently, scholars from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and the University of North Carolina have developed a skin microneedle patch, in which drugs are wrapped in nanoparticles on the patch (see video), which successfully completes the "browning" in mouse model experiments and can improve the metabolism of the whole body.

The two drugs used in this study are Avandia and CL3 16243. Compared with the untreated side, the fat in the treated side decreased by 30%, and a large number of brown fat genes were produced in this part. In addition, the study also found that the microneedle patch also has an effect on healthy mice.

Li Qiang, one of the main members of the research team, said: "At present, many oral or injection drugs have been used in clinic to promote browning. These drugs will act on the whole body and cause some side effects, such as stomach upset, weight gain and fracture. The microneedle patch directly acts on adipose tissue and will not cause the above problems. "

The microneedle patch has not been tested in human body, and researchers are looking for the best drug or compound drug that can promote local browning and improve the overall metabolic function.

(Excerpted from: Faber Qiu, Faber Qiu, Medical Beauty Information Network)