Researchers Create Nanoparticle for Treating Kidney Disease

Dr. Rex Mahnensmith serves as an internal medicine physician at the StayWell Health Center in Waterbury, Connecticut. Dr. Rex Mahnensmith comes to this position as the former clinical director of nephrology and the medical director of dialysis at the Yale Medical Group, where he cared for numerous patients with kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease has traditionally been a difficult condition to treat. Conventional options have been limited to dialysis, kidney transplantation, or strong systemic medications, all of which are intensely demanding on the body. Recently, however, researchers at the University of Southern California have begun to explore the option of targeted drug delivery. 

The research team began by developing a nanoparticle known as a micelle. Created from a peptide chain that includes glutamic acids and lysine, it is 10 to 20 times smaller than the typical nanoparticle. Its size enables it to pass through the kidney filtration system, while the peptide component allows the kidneys to retain the particle instead of excreting it as waste. 

Retention of the nanoparticle by the kidneys is crucial, as it allows for the release of the drug at the site of the disease. This in turn minimizes side effects and may increase the likelihood that the drug will have its intended effects. 

In vivo testing has shown that when injected into mice, the nanoparticles concentrated in the kidneys and were safely expelled within a week. This promising result suggests that the method may be effective not only in treating disease but also in preserving other organs.

Kidney Disease Causes and Risk Factors

Dr. Rex Mahnensmith stands out as the former clinical director of nephrology and medical director of dialysis for Yale Medical Group, which he served for more than 20 years. Now an internal medicine physician at the StayWell Health Center in Connecticut, Dr. Rex Mahnensmith brings an in-depth knowledge of kidney disease and its risks.

Approximately 33 percent of adults in the United States have an elevated risk of kidney disease. Patients with this condition experience a gradual decrease in the kidney's ability to filter excess fluid and waste products from the blood. As kidney function becomes severely impaired, the level of waste, fluid, and electrolytes can build up in the body to dangerous levels.

This condition typically develops in response to other conditions. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common root causes, but recurring kidney infections can also cause the kidneys to fail. Other causes include extended obstruction of the urinary tract, inflammation of the kidney's internal structures, and the presence of polycystic kidney disease.

Patients who have a family history of kidney disease are at higher risk of developing kidney disease. The condition is also more common in individuals of Hispanic, African-American, Asian, and Native American heritage.