Unveiling the renoprotective mechanisms of self-assembled herbal nanoparticles from <i>Scutellaria barbata</i> and <i>Scleromitrion diffusum</i> in acute kidney injury: A nano-TCM approach.

Lunyue XIA; Qunfang YANG; Kangzhe FU; Yutong YANG; Kaiyue DING; Yuexue HUO; Lanfang ZHANG; Yunong LI; Borong ZHU; Peiyu LI; Yijie HUO; Liang SUN; Ya LIU; Haigang ZHANG; Tao LIU; Wenjun SHAN; Lin ZHANG

Return

Unveiling the renoprotective mechanisms of self-assembled herbal nanoparticles from Scutellaria barbata and Scleromitrion diffusum in acute kidney injury: A nano-TCM approach.

Author: Lunyue XIA ¹ ; Qunfang YANG ² ; Kangzhe FU ¹ ; Yutong YANG ¹ ; Kaiyue DING ¹ ; Yuexue HUO ¹ ; Lanfang ZHANG ² ; Yunong LI ² ; Borong ZHU ² ; Peiyu LI ¹ ; Yijie HUO ¹ ; Liang SUN ³ ; Ya LIU ² ; Haigang ZHANG ² ; Tao LIU ² ; Wenjun SHAN ² ; Lin ZHANG ¹
Author Information

1. Institute of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116000, China.
2. Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China.
3. Shenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518000, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: AKI; Ferroptosis; Nano-TCM; Nrf2; Protein corona; SSNPs; Self-assemble
From: Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(8):4265-4284
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical clinical condition characterized by rapid renal function decline, with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown potential effects on mitigating oxidative stress and programmed cell death in AKI models. Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SB) and Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R. J. Wang (SD), a classic TCM herbal pair exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Using advanced chromatographic separation technology, we enriched the effective fractions of water extracts from SB-SD, obtaining self-assembled herbal nanoparticles (SB and SD nanoparticles, SSNPs) rich in flavonoids and terpenoids. These SSNPs demonstrated robust antioxidant properties in vitro and mitigated AKI progression in vivo by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. Oral administration of SSNPs in mice resulted in absorption into the bloodstream, formation of a protein corona, reduced macrophage phagocytosis, and enhanced bioavailability and renal targeting. Furthermore, we investigated the self-assembly principle of SSNPs using representative flavonoids and terpenoids. Kinetic studies and in situ transmission electron microscopy (in situ TEM) revealed that these compounds self-assemble via supramolecular forces like hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions, forming stable nanostructures. This study elucidates the renoprotective effects and mechanisms of SB and SD, and provides a novel approach for the development of TCM-based nanomedicines, highlighting the potential of nano-TCM in AKI treatment.