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.
- 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.
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.