Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious clinical syndrome
with high
morbidity, elevated mortality, and poor prognosis, commonly considered
a “sword of Damocles” for hospitalized patients, especially
those in intensive care units. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and
apoptosis, caused by the excessive production of reactive oxygen species
(ROS), play a key role in AKI progression. Hence, the investigation
of effective and safe antioxidants and inflammatory regulators to
scavenge overexpressed ROS and regulate excessive inflammation has
become a promising therapeutic option. However, the unique physiological
structure and complex pathological alterations in the kidneys render
traditional therapies ineffective, impeding the residence and efficacy
of most antioxidant and anti-inflammatory small molecule drugs within
the renal milieu. Recently, nanotherapeutic interventions have emerged
as a promising and prospective strategy for AKI, overcoming traditional
treatment dilemmas through alterations in size, shape, charge, and
surface modifications. This Review succinctly summarizes the latest
advancements in nanotherapeutic approaches for AKI, encompassing nanozymes,
ROS scavenger nanomaterials, MSC-EVs, and nanomaterials loaded with
antioxidants and inflammatory regulator. Following this, strategies
aimed at enhancing biocompatibility and kidney targeting are introduced.
Furthermore, a brief discussion on the current challenges and future
prospects in this research field is presented, providing a comprehensive
overview of the evolving landscape of nanotherapeutic interventions
for AKI.