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Targeting renal fibrosis: Mechanisms and drug delivery systems

Madalina V Nastase1, Jinyang Zeng-Brouwers2, Malgorzata Wygrecka3

  • 1Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, Institut für Allgemeine Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; National Institute for Chemical-Pharmaceutical Research and Development, 112 Vitan Avenue, 031299 Bucharest, Romania.

Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
|December 31, 2017
PubMed

Insights

This review explores advanced drug delivery methods to reverse renal fibrosis in chronic kidney diseases (CKD). It highlights novel strategies for effective antifibrotic therapy, aiming to overcome current treatment limitations.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Renal fibrosis is a common endpoint for chronic kidney diseases (CKD), leading to irreversible kidney damage.
  • Current treatments for CKD can only slow progression, not reverse established fibrosis.
  • Ineffective drug delivery to the kidneys hinders the translation of antifibrotic therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms of renal fibrosis.
  • To explore innovative drug delivery strategies for treating kidney fibrosis.
  • To summarize current and emerging antifibrotic therapeutic approaches.

Main Methods:

  • Discussion of gene therapy tools for in vivo nucleic acid delivery.
  • Review of protein/peptide drugs utilizing hydrogels with antibodies/cytokines.
  • Assessment of megalin receptor-targeted drug delivery to tubular epithelial cells.
  • Summary of plant-derived compounds with antifibrotic effects.

Main Results:

  • Gene therapy offers potential for targeted nucleic acid delivery.
  • Hydrogel-based drug delivery systems show promise for localized treatment.
  • Megalin receptor targeting presents a novel strategy for specific cell delivery.
  • Natural compounds offer alternative antifibrotic avenues.

Conclusions:

  • Overcoming drug delivery challenges is crucial for reversing renal fibrosis.
  • Multiple innovative strategies, including gene therapy, targeted delivery, and natural products, are emerging.
  • Further research into these advanced delivery systems could lead to effective treatments for CKD.
Keywords:
Bone morphogenetic proteinCarbon nanotubesLiposomeLysozymeMegalinNanoparticlePolyethylenimineProteoglycansRenal fibrosisTransforming growth factor-βTubular epithelial cellmicroRNA

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