ROS-responsive curcumin-encapsulated nanoparticles for AKI therapy via promoting lipid degradation in renal tubules

J Mater Chem B. 2024 Mar 20;12(12):3063-3078. doi: 10.1039/d3tb02318d.

Abstract

Lipid accumulation is a factor contributing to the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI), yet there are currently no approved pharmacotherapies aside from adjuvant therapy. A developed reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive drug delivery system (NPSBG@Cur) was developed to deliver the autophagy activator curcumin (Cur) in order to alleviate AKI by activating autophagy and promoting lipid droplet degradation. The nanoparticles were shown to be ROS-responsive in the H2O2 medium and demonstrate ROS-responsive uptake in palmitate (PA)-induced oxidative stress-damaged cells. NPSBG@Cur was found to effectively inhibit lipid accumulation by autophagosome transport in kidney tubular cells. Additionally, in a mouse AKI model, NPSBG@Cur was observed to significantly ameliorate renal damage by activating autophagy flux and improving lipid transport. These results suggest that the ROS-responsive drug delivery system augmented the therapeutic effect of Cur on AKI by improving lipid metabolism through autophagy activation. Therefore, targeting lipid metabolism with NPSBG@Cur may be a promising AKI treatment strategy.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury* / drug therapy
  • Animals
  • Curcumin* / pharmacology
  • Curcumin* / therapeutic use
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • Lipids
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Curcumin
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Lipids