Nanomedicines for renal disease: current status and future applications
Nazila Kamaly1,2, John C He3, Dennis A Ausiello4,5
1Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anaesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Abstract:
Treatment and management of kidney disease currently presents an enormous global burden, and the application of nanotechnology principles to renal disease therapy, although still at an early stage, has profound transformative potential. The increasing translation of nanomedicines to the clinic, alongside research efforts in tissue regeneration and organ-on-a-chip investigations, are likely to provide novel solutions to treat kidney diseases. Our understanding of renal anatomy and of how the biological and physico-chemical properties of nanomedicines (the combination of a nanocarrier and a drug) influence their interactions with renal tissues has improved dramatically. Tailoring of nanomedicines in terms of kidney retention and binding to key membranes and cell populations associated with renal diseases is now possible and greatly enhances their localization, tolerability, and efficacy. This Review outlines nanomedicine characteristics central to improved targeting of renal cells and highlights the prospects, challenges, and opportunities of nanotechnology-mediated therapies for renal diseases.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention
Renal Drug Clearance: Overview
Renal clearance can be calculated using different methods. One approach is to divide the urinary drug excretion rate by the plasma drug concentration. This method directly measures renal clearance, indicating the kidneys' efficiency in...
Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Renal Drug Excretion: Tubular Secretion
Drug Dosing in Renal Diseases: Measurement of Glomerular Filtration Rate
Renal Drug Excretion: Overview
A nephron consists of two primary structures: the renal corpuscle and the renal tubule. The renal corpuscle contains the glomerulus, a network of capillaries where the first step of renal excretion, glomerular filtration, occurs. Blood pressure forces water, ions, and small molecules...


