Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 2, 2025
11:18
Direct Drug Delivery to Kidney via the Renal Artery
Published on: April 17, 2021
7.8K
Targeted Drug Delivery Systems for Kidney Diseases
Xiaohan Huang1, Yanhong Ma1, Yangyang Li2
1Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Kidney Disease Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Nephrology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
|June 14, 2021
Summary
Nanotechnology offers new ways to treat kidney diseases by delivering drugs directly to the kidneys. These nanodelivery systems show promise in reducing side effects and improving treatment effectiveness in animal models.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Kidney diseases represent a significant global health challenge.
- Nanotechnology advancements offer novel therapeutic strategies for various diseases.
- Targeted delivery systems are emerging as a promising approach to enhance treatment efficacy and minimize side effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in nanotherapeutic devices for kidney-targeted delivery.
- To highlight the potential of nanomaterials in ameliorating kidney disease treatment.
- To discuss the application of nanodelivery systems for various therapeutic agents.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on nanotherapeutic devices for kidney diseases.
- Analysis of studies utilizing nanomaterials for targeted drug delivery in nephrology.
- Examination of nanocarriers for immunosuppressants, antioxidants, and siRNAs.
Main Results:
- Nanomaterials show potential for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to the kidneys.
- Several nanodelivery systems have demonstrated significant treatment effectiveness in kidney disease animal models.
- These systems have shown promise in reducing systemic side effects compared to conventional treatments.
Conclusions:
- Nanotechnology-based targeted delivery systems hold great potential for the future treatment of kidney diseases.
- While many systems are in early stages, they offer a promising avenue for improved therapeutic outcomes.
- Further research and development are crucial for clinical translation of these nanotherapeutics.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Drug Elimination by Renal Route: Tubular Secretion
3.0K
Once the process of glomerular filtration is completed, blood carrying unfiltered drug molecules traverses through efferent arterioles and makes its way into the peritubular capillaries in the proximal tubule. A variety of carriers play a pivotal role in actively secreting drugs from these peritubular capillaries into the tubular fluid. The organic anion transporter transfers acidic drugs, against an electrochemical gradient, from the peritubular capillaries into the renal tubule cells and...
3.0K
01:15Renal Drug Excretion: Overview
397
As primary excretory organs, the kidneys maintain homeostasis by removing waste substances from the bloodstream. They comprise over a million units called nephrons, which serve as the kidney's functional units.
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...
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...
397
01:25Drug Dosing in Renal Diseases: Dose Adjustments Based on Drug Clearance and Elimination Rate Constant
37
In patients with renal disease, dosage adjustments are necessary to maintain therapeutic plasma drug concentrations and prevent toxicity or subtherapeutic exposure. Renal impairment alters drug pharmacokinetics, especially in conditions like uremia, where changes such as prolonged elimination half-life and altered apparent volume of distribution can significantly affect drug disposition. These changes require careful modification of the dosing regimen to achieve the desired clinical...
37
01:17Drug Elimination by Renal Route: Glomerular Filtration
6.5K
The kidney serves as the primary organ responsible for eliminating drugs and their metabolites from the body. This process, known as renal elimination, starts with glomerular filtration and results in urine formation. Each kidney houses millions of functional units called nephrons, where urine production takes place. A nephron has two main components: a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule. Drugs gain access to the kidney via the renal artery, which progressively branches off into afferent...
6.5K
01:22Drug Elimination by Renal Route: Tubular Reabsorption
4.5K
During the process of renal excretion, as the glomerular filtrate progresses to the distal convoluted tubule (DCT), drugs that are highly permeable, lipophilic, and nonionized undergo passive reabsorption from the tubular fluid into the surrounding peritubular capillaries. This reabsorption process restricts their elimination through the kidneys. However, the majority of drugs are either weak acids or weak bases, and their ionization level is dependent on pH. By altering the pH of urine, the...
4.5K
01:28Renal Drug Excretion: Tubular Secretion
480
Active tubular secretion is a robust, energy-demanding process that utilizes carrier systems to transport drugs into renal tubules. The active renal secretion systems include the organic anion transporter (OAT) for weak acids and the organic cation transporter (OCT) for weak bases. Structurally similar drugs can compete for the same transporter, potentially leading to drug accumulation and toxicity. However, this principle can be exploited therapeutically. One example is probenecid (Probalan),...
480