Mesoscale Nanoparticles: An Unexpected Means for Selective Therapeutic Targeting of Kidney Diseases!

See related article, pp 87–94 Nanoparticles have attracted major interests for biomedical applications mainly as imaging contrast agents and effective drug carriers as well as the combination of both, as theranostic nanoparticles. Based on substantial advances in multiple disciplines especially in biotechnology and chemistry, a broad variety of purpose-built nanoparticles with diverse characteristics can be generated. Chemical and physical alterations of the basic structure of nanoparticles, such as size, zeta potential (effective electrostatic charge), and surface functionalization for the coupling of various targeting moieties make nanoparticles highly adaptable engendering favorable characteristics for specific disease targeting, increased blood circulation half-life, solubility, and diffusivity.1 We are currently witnessing the emergence of the first clinical applications particularly in cancer, but there are also concerns in regards to toxicity and environmental impact.A previous article by Williams et al2 systematically investigated the influence of various nanoparticle characteristics on organ targeting, particularly of size. Small nanoparticles of 1000 nm) on the other hand exhibit nonspecific deposition in the lungs. The authors made the intriguing observation that mesoscale nanoparticles of 350 to 400 nm accumulated in the kidney with a broad distribution throughout the whole organ.Figure. Specific targeting of mesoscale nanoparticles to the kidney proximal tubules within the size-dependant spectrum of nanoparticle organ biodistribution. EPR …