Ultrasmall Nanodots with Dual Anti-Ferropototic Effect for Acute Kidney Injury Therapy

Ferroptosis is known to mediate the pathogenesis of chemotherapeutic drug-induced acute kidney injury (AKI); however, leveraging the benefits of ferroptosis-based treatments for nephroprotection remains challenging. Here, ultrasmall nanodots, denoted as FerroD, comprising the amphiphilic conjugate (tetraphenylethylene-_L-serine-deferoxamine, TPE-lys-Ser-DFO (TSD)) and entrapped ferrostatin-1 are designed. After being internalized through kidney injury molecule-1-mediated endocytosis, FerroD can simultaneously remove the overloaded iron ions and eliminate the overproduction of lipid peroxides by the coordination-disassembly mechanisms, which collectively confer prominent inhibition efficiency of ferroptosis. In cisplatin (CDDP)-induced AKI mice, FerroD equipped with dual anti-ferroptotic ability can provide long-term nephroprotective effects. This study may shed new light on the design and clinical translation of therapeutics targeting ferroptosis for various ferroptosis-related kidney diseases.