Abstract

Obesity is characterized by chronic energy surplus, hypertrophic and hyperplastic expansion of white adipose 
tissue, ectopic lipid deposition and complex disturbances in lipid and glucose metabolism. Pharmacologic 
approaches that directly modulate adipogenesis, lipogenesis, lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation have often been 
limited by poor solubility, low oral bioavailability and off-target effects of many candidate compounds, including 
natural products and nucleic-acid-based agents. Lipid-based nanocarriers such as liposomes, solid lipid 
nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions and lipid nanoparticles provide a versatile platform 
to overcome these limitations by enhancing solubility, protecting labile cargos and improving delivery to 
adipose tissue and metabolic organs. This review highlights the pathophysiological rationale for targeting 
adipogenesis and lipid metabolism in obesity and explains how lipid-based nanocarriers can be engineered to 
modulate these processes. We describe major nanocarrier classes and design features, discuss mechanisms 
through which they influence adipocyte differentiation and lipid handling, and summarize preclinical evidence 
for lipid-based delivery of small molecules, nutraceuticals, endogenous lipids and nucleic acids. Finally, we 
address safety, scalability, regulatory issues and future directions toward precision, adipose-targeted nano
therapies for obesity.