2. Academic Validation
  3. Kidney Targeting Liposomes Loaded with the Antioxidant Pinocembrin for Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury

Kidney Targeting Liposomes Loaded with the Antioxidant Pinocembrin for Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury

  • ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2026 Jan 21;18(2):3527-3538. doi: 10.1021/acsami.5c18109.
Cheng Fu 1 2,  Tianyi Hu 2,  Xiangli Zhao 2,  Man Zhang 2,  Tianhui Pan 2,  Yahui Huang 2,  Jiang Zhang 2,  Lan Zhu 2,  Gang Chen 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China.
  • 2 Institute of Organ Transplantation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430030, China.
PMID: 41510988 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5c18109
Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious clinical syndrome, and currently there is a significant lack of effective pharmacotherapy. Pinocembrin (PIN), a flavonoid derived from propolis, possesses antioxidant properties and could be advantageous in treating AKI. However, its poor water solubility limits its clinical application. Lipid nanoparticles have become a promising drug delivery method due to their excellent biocompatibility and capacity to improve drug targeting. In this study, sialic acid (SA) - modified PIN liposomes (PIN-LIP) were developed for targeted protection against AKI. The PIN-LIP effectively targeted the kidneys via the specific interaction between SA with E-Selectin. Importantly, in vivo experiments in two AKI models (cisplatin-induced and rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI) confirmed that the injected PIN-LIP was retained in the injured kidneys for more than 24 h. The PIN-LIP exhibited excellent antioxidative and antiapoptotic effects on HK-2 cell injury induced by H2O2 in vitro. It also improved renal function and reduced oxidative stress, tubular cell Apoptosis and inflammatory responses in in vivo AKI models. In addition, PIN-LIP showed a favorable biocompatibility and safety profile in vivo. Therefore, PIN-LIP may be a promising therapeutic option for AKI treatment.

Keywords

acute kidney injury; lipid nanoparticles; oxidative stress; pinocembrin; renal targeting.

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