# Unravel Nanoparticle Transport and Interactions in Renal Proximal Tubules

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DALLAS · 2021 · $295,917

## Abstract

Abstract
 Kidneys, as a major organ for waste removal, are being exploited to accelerate the body
clearance of “off-target” engineered nanoparticles to meet FDA regulation for the clinical translation of
nanomedicines, which demands thorough understanding of nanoparticle transport and interactions at
the fundamental level. However, renal proximal tubule is often overlooked in comparison with
extensive studies on glomerular filtration of engineered nanoparticles even though proximal tubule is
the most active site involved in concentration, retention and reabsorption of the filtered proteins
through glomeruli. While the sizes and charges are recognized important in protein reabsorption due
to unique microvilli-covered surface of proximal tubule cells, it is still largely unknown how engineered
nanoparticles will be retained and interact with the proximal tubules after being filtered through the
glomeruli.
 The objective of this application is to advance our fundamental understanding of the size,
charge and surface chemistry effects on the transport and interactions of engineered nanoparticles in
not only the normal but also injured proximal tubules; so that we can obtain a general strategy in
minimizing their potential health hazards in their future clinical applications. Five specific aims are
proposed to accomplish the objective: In Aims 1-3, we will unravel size, surface chemistry, and
surface charge effects on the transport and interaction of renal clearable gold nanoparticle in renal
proximal tubules. Aim 4 is to revisit these size, charge and surface chemistry dependencies in the
diseased kidneys with proximal tubular injury. Aim 5 is to evaluate biocompatibility and nephrotoxicity
of renal clearable AuNPs with distinct interactions with proximal tubules in both normal mice and mice
with proximal tubular injury. Success of the proposed studies will significantly advance our
fundamental understanding of in vivo interactions of engineered nanoparticles with renal proximal
tubules, laying down a solid foundation for further development of new design strategies that can
minimize nephrotoxicity of nanomedicines in their future clinical translation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10148770
- **Project number:** 5R01DK124881-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DALLAS
- **Principal Investigator:** Mengxiao Yu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $295,917
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10148770

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10148770, Unravel Nanoparticle Transport and Interactions in Renal Proximal Tubules (5R01DK124881-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10148770. Licensed CC0.

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