Brown adipose tissue engineering: advances, challenges, and future directions

Obesity is a major health issue as it increases the risk of developing chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a promising target for obesity treatment due to its ability to burn fat and create heat via non-shivering thermogenesis. The development of BAT models for therapeutic use has become possible through recent advances in tissue engineering, including stem cell-based methods, 3D bioprinting, and organoid systems. However, optimizing differentiation protocols while maintaining the physiological relevance of BAT remains challenging. This review explores current advances in BAT engineering and highlights future research priorities for achieving clinical applications in metabolic health interventions.