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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Author Spotlight: Insights into Cardiometabolic Diseases with Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Microvasculature Studies
Published on: April 5, 2024
Gold Nanoparticle-assisted Selective Photothermolysis of Adipose Tissue (NanoLipo)
Wangzhong Sheng1, Ali H Alhasan1, Gabriella DiBernardo1
1Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, Calif.; Materials Science and Engineering Program, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, Calif.; Department of Biology, Union College, Schenectady, N.Y.; Department of Surgery, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, Nev.; Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, N.J.
Background:
Conventional suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL) often results in contour irregularity. Selective photothermal heating of adipose tissue by polymer-coated gold nanorods energized by an external near-infrared exposure at 800 nm is introduced in this work to facilitate fat removal.
Methods:
The effects of NanoLipo were examined in food-grade porcine abdominal tissue (skin, fat, and fascia) by histology. The efficacy of NanoLipo was compared with that of conventional SAL in vivo in Yucatan mini pigs by quantification of removed subcutaneous tissue and fatty acids and ultrasound measurement of adipose layer thickness.
Results:
NanoLipo led to the appearance of disruptions in adipose tissue that were not apparent in control groups in ex vivo samples. NanoLipo allowed removal of more subcutaneous tissue (~33% vs ~25% of removed material, P < 0.05) and approximately twice as much free fatty acids (~60% vs ~30% of removed tissue, P < 0.05) in comparison with conventional SAL. Most importantly, NanoLipo led to a greater decrease in adipose layer thickness at 1 month post surgery (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
NanoLipo facilitates removal of a greater quantity of fat and requires less suction time (4 vs 10 minutes) than conventional SAL. As the safety of poly(ethylene-glycol)-coated gold nanorods is well-established, a clinical trial is currently being organized.
