Spotlight on Genetic Kidney Diseases: A Call for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine Solutions

Abstract

Nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers have benefited diseases, including cancer, since the 1990s, and more recently, their promise to quickly and efficiently be mobilized to fight against global diseases such as in the COVID-19 pandemic have been proven. Despite these success stories, there are limited nanomedicine efforts for chronic kidney diseases (CKDs), which affect 844 million people worldwide and can be linked to a variety of genetic kidney diseases. In this Perspective, we provide a brief overview of the clinical status of genetic kidney diseases, background on kidney physiology and a summary of nanoparticle design that enable kidney access and targeting, and emerging technological strategies that can be applied for genetic kidney diseases, including rare and congenital kidney diseases. Finally, we conclude by discussing gaps in knowledge remaining in both genetic kidney diseases and kidney nanomedicine and collective efforts that are needed to bring together stakeholders from diverse expertise and industries to enable the development of the most relevant drug delivery strategies that can make an impact in the clinic.

Microrobots for Biomedicine: Unsolved Challenges and Opportunities for Translation

“…This capability is difficult to achieve with traditional nanoparticles alone. While nanoparticles have shown utility in biomedicine as therapeutic delivery vehicles, − they rely on passive diffusion or circulation for transport, subjecting them to both physical and biological barriers that limit their delivery efficiency to places like solid tumors (i.e., only ≈0.7% of systemically injected nanoparticles reach solid tumors) . Thus, designing microrobots with specific transport capabilities will be necessary for many biomedical applications to avoid biological filters.…”

Selective organ targeting nanoparticles: from design to clinical translation

“…12D). 149 Nanoparticles larger than 100 nm can enter the kidney through exocytosis of capillary epithelial cells around renal tubules and endocytosis of renal tubules (Fig. 12E).…”

“…12E). 149 Han et al used PEG–PLGA polymer nanoparticles of 300–400 nm to deliver Toll-like receptor 9 antagonists to alleviate ischemic acute renal injury. 153 In addition, low-density nanoparticles flow faster and are easier to remove.…”

Silica-coated LiYF4:Yb3+, Tm3+ upconverting nanoparticles are non-toxic and activate minor stress responses in mammalian cells

“…22 Several cell types located in the kidney have emerged as targets for nanomedicine. 23,24 Kidneys non-specically accumulate NPs, 25 which makes them especially vulnerable to the adverse effects of nanomaterials. Peritubular capillaries provide the route to kidney tubules.…”