Self-Assembled Phytochemical Nanomedicines with Enhanced Bioactivities for Effective Acute Kidney Injury Therapy

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and lethal complication for inpatients in the intensive care unit. Accumulative evidence suggests that severe inflammation and oxidative stress are major causes of AKI. Natural polyphenols with potent antioxidative and anti-inflammation activities are promising in the treatment of AKI, but low bioavailability reduces their therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Herein, we reported a novel polyphenol-based nanomedicine comprising a tea polyphenol nanocarrier and the insoluble small-molecule drug curcumin for targeted sepsis-induced AKI therapy. Tea polyphenol nanoparticles (TP-NPs) were synthesized with the tea polyphenol oligomers, and then curcumin-containing nanoparticles (Cur-NPs) were prepared by the loading of curcumin into TP-NPs. In vitro experiments proved the capability of Cur-NPs to scavenge free radicals, protect normal cells from oxidative damage, and suppress the expression of proinflammatory factors. Furthermore, these polyphenol-based nanomedicines effectively alleviated septic AKI by suppressing the inflammation response and restoring oxidant-redox homeostasis in vivo. The prepared Cur-NPs further exhibited carrier-enhanced efficacy due to the therapeutic effects of inornate TP-NPs. In conclusion, the phytochemical nanomedicines provide an attractive strategy for AKI therapy and herald a prospective future in the development of natural reproducible resource-derived nanomedicines for various diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation.