Biopolymer-Based Nanosystems: Potential Novel Carriers for Kidney Drug Delivery

Kidney disease has become a serious public health problem throughout the world, and its treatment and management constitute a huge global economic burden. Currently, the main clinical treatments are not sufficient to cure kidney diseases. During its development, nanotechnology has shown unprecedented potential for application to kidney diseases. However, nanotechnology has disadvantages such as high cost and poor bioavailability. In contrast, biopolymers are not only widely available but also highly bioavailable. Therefore, biopolymer-based nanosystems offer new promising solutions for the treatment of kidney diseases. This paper reviews the biopolymer-based nanosystems that have been used for renal diseases and describes strategies for the specific, targeted delivery of drugs to the kidney as well as the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles that affect the targeting success

Targeting Renal Proximal Tubule Cells in Obesity-Related Glomerulopathy

As a metabolic disorder, obesity can cause secondary kidney damage, which is called obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG). As the incidence of obesity increases worldwide, so does the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) caused by ORGs. However, there is still a lack of effective strategies to prevent and delay the occurrence and development of ORG. Therefore, a deeper understanding and elaboration of the pathogenesis of ORG is conducive to the development of therapeutic drugs for ORG. Here, we review the characteristics of pathological lesions of ORG and describe the roles of lipid metabolism disorders and mitochondrial oxidative stress in the development of ORG. Finally, we summarize the current available drugs or compounds for the treatment of ORG and suggested that ameliorating renal lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function may be potential therapeutic targets for ORG

Discovery of tanshinone derivatives with anti-MRSA activity via targeted bio-transformation

Two potent anti-MRSA tanshinone glycosides (1 and 2) were discovered by targeted microbial biotransformation, along with rapid identification via MS/MS networking. Serial reactions including dehydrogenation, demethylations, reduction, glycosylation and methylation have been observed after incubation of tanshinone IIA and fungus Mucor rouxianus AS 3.3447. In addition, tanshinosides B (2) showed potent activities against serial clinical isolates of oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values of 0.78 μg/mL. This is the first study that shows a significant increase in the level and activities of tanshinone glycosides relative to the substrate tanshinone IIA

Caesanines A–D, New Cassane Diterpenes with Unprecedented N Bridge from <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i>

Serial antibacterial furanoditerpenes caesanines A–D (<b>1</b>–<b>4</b>), possessing a cassane-type diterpenoid skeleton with an unusual N bridge between C-19/C-20, were identified from a Chinese herb <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> Linn. In addition, caesanine D (<b>4</b>) showed the first class of dicassane diterpenoid ethers. Their structures were determined by different spectroscopic methods and ECD calculation. Caesanines A and B exhibited strong activities against MRSA suggesting a promising entry point for the development of anti-infective drugs

Abyssomicins from the South China Sea deep-sea sediment Verrucosispora sp.: natural thioether michael addition adducts as antitubercular prodrugs

From the deep: The title actinomycete yielded three new abyssomicins J-L. The dimeric thioether J (see scheme) represents a unique example of a masked Michael acceptor with anti-TB properties. Mechanistic insights into the biosynthesis, biomimetic synthesis, stability, and biological mechanism of action of abyssomicins aid our understanding of, and prospects for the development of Michael-acceptor-based drugs. Copyrigh