The Polymer Society of Korea

이승준 (광주과학기술원)

이재영 (광주과학기술원)

Acute kidney injury (AKI) often progresses to chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to complex pathophysiology involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) and renal fibrosis. We developed a multifunctional nanoplatform for kidney-specific targeting, ROS scavenging, and ROS-responsive anti-fibrotic drug release to prevent AKI-to-CKD transition. Hyaluronic acid (HA), targeting CD44 overexpressed in injured kidneys, was conjugated to reduced graphene oxide (rGO), an antioxidant and drug carrier, forming HA/rGO. Paricalcitol, an anti-fibrotic drug, was loaded onto HA/rGO and released under oxidative stress. HA/rGO showed strong antioxidant activity, protecting tubular cells from ROS-induced damage in vitro. In vivo, HA/rGO accumulated in ischemia/reperfusion (IR)-injured kidneys via HA-CD44 interaction, improved renal function, and reduced fibrosis in IR mouse models. This nanoplatform effectively mitigates AKI-to-CKD progression through targeted, ROS-responsive therapy.