Aim To study the effect of NBED on the decorporation of uranium and the protective effect on HK-2 cellular damage.Methods ICR mice were divided into control group, uranium exposure group(0.03 mg), DTPA-CaNa3(300 mg·kg-1)and NBED(300, 150, 75 mg·kg-1)treatment groups.After injection of uranyl acetate, mice were given different doses of decorporation agents immediately.After 24 h the content of uranium in kidney, bone, liver, spleen and muscle was determined by ICP-MS.HK-2 cells were divided into control group, uranium model group(80 μmol·L-1), DTPA-CaNa3(80 μmol·L-1)and NBED(80, 40, 20 μmol·L-1)treatment group interacted with uranium for 48h.CCK-8 method was used to detect the cell survival rate; light microscope was used to observe the cell morphology; ICP-MS method was used to detect the ratio of uranium endocytosis and uranium efflux; biochemical method was employed to determine SOD, GSH and LDH levels; flow cytometry was applied to determine ROS, apoptosis and cell cycle.Results 300 mg·kg-1 NBED reduced the content of uranium in kidney and bone by 44.3% and 18.8% respectively.Compared with model group, NBED reduced uranium entry into cells by 11%42%, increased uranium emission by 18%48%, increased the survival rate of HK-2 cells, thelevels of SOD and GSH, decreased the expression levels of ROS and LDH, and decreased the apoptotic rate and S phase arrest.DTPA-CaNa3 could significantly reduce the content of uranium and the amount of uranium endocytosis in kidney of mice, but the effect of promoting excretion was significantly lower than that of NBED, and it had no protective effect on the acute injury of HK-2 cells caused by uranium.Conclusions NBED is an effective uranium decorporation agent, which is superior to DTPA-CaNa3 approved by FDA.It could reduce the production of ROS and LDH, increase the content of SOD and GSH, and reduce the arrest and apoptosis of S phase, thus protecting HK-2 cells from uranium induced damage.