Nanotechnology Project

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Inventories

Environment, Health and Safety Research

Early Detection of Renal Injury

Project Information

Principal Investigator
Institution
Project URLView
Relevance to ImplicationsSome
Class of NanomaterialEngineered Nanomaterials
Impact SectorHuman Health
Broad Research Categories Generation, Dispersion, Transformation etc.
Characterization
NNI identifierB1-22

Funding Information

CountryUSA
Anticipated Total Fundingn/a
Annual Fundingn/a
Funding SourceNIH
Funding Mechanism
Funding Sector
Start Year2000
Anticipated End Year2010

Abstract/Summary

Renal disease is difficult to detect, particularly in a form called acute kidney injury (also known as acute renal failure). We are developing new methods to detect renal disease involving either MRI, or urine or blood tests. 1) Detection of proximal tubule damage in mice MRI using dendrimer gadolinium chelate nanoparticles. We found that Gadolinium nanoparticles accumulate in the proximal tubule, and can be used to detect renal structure, function, and injury. We extending our methods for the early detection and outcome prediction of sepsis-acute kidney injury to other forms of kidney damage, including chronic kidney disease. 2) Markers for early diagnosis. We are new using microarray and proteomic techniques to search for early biomarkers of ischemia/reperfusion-, nephrotoxic-, and sepsis-induced acute kidney injury. We have a few excellent candidates, including Fetuin A, that are being validated using our mouse and rat acute kidney injury models. 3) We have worked out the collection, storage, and processing conditions to use urinary exosomal proteins as biomarkers of renal disease. We are beginning to search for exosomal markers of structural renal injury in our animal models.