Nanoparticles for preventing peri/post-menopausal bone loss and/or obesity

Abstract

Nanoparticles and formulations for preventing or reducing peri-/post-menopausal bone loss and/or obesity in a subject are disclosed. The nanoparticles contain a cage, such as a zeolitic imidazolate framework (“ZIF”), a surface modifying agent, a targeting ligand, and an active agent. The surface modifying agent is attached to the outer surface of the cage and the targeting ligand is exposed to the surrounding environment. The active agent is encapsulated in the cage. The targeting ligand binds to a reproductive hormone or a receptor of a reproductive hormone. The active agent can be a ribosome inactivating protein, an apoptosis inducer, a hormone, a receptor ligand, or a nucleic acid, or a combination thereof, that inactivate ribosomes of gonadotroph cells and/or prevent or reduce secretion of follicle-stimulating hormones in the subject. Uses for formulations incorporating the nanoparticles for preventing or reducing peri-/post-menopausal bone loss and/or obesity in a subject are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.