Kaempferol conjugated selenium nanoparticles mitigate kidney injury from rhabdomyolysis through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions via Nrf2/NF-κb pathway.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an acute clinical syndrome accompanied by a high morbidity and mortality, requiring effective therapeutic techniques. A recent study investigated the effects of kaempferol-coated selenium nanoparticles (KMP-SeNPs) in the prevention of glycerol-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in rats via Nrf2/NF-κB signaling pathways. Initially, KMP-SeNPs were prepared and characterized, with spherical nanoparticles (94.8 nm; - 67.5 mV). A total of thirty-five rats were randomly assigned into a control group, AKI group, AKI&KMP (AKI treated with kaempferol) group, AKI&Na₂SeO₃ treatment group and an AKI&KMP-SeNPs treatment groups. AKI was induced by glycerol injection on day 20, and all treatments (21 days in total). Parameters assessed included renal function, oxidative stress, inflammatory and apoptotic markers (such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)), and immunohistochemistry for Nrf2 and FOXP3. Glycerol led to significant AKI characterized by increased renal injury, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, with reduced antioxidants and Bcl-2. KMP-SeNPs (normalized all renal markers, balanced redox status, inhibited NF-κB-driven inflammation (58-65% reduction in TNF-α expression; 65% IL-6 and IL1β) apoptosis markers (~ 60% reduction in Bax and caspase-3 expression; 94% Bcl-2 restoration), preserved tissue structure compared to KMP and Na₂SeO₃. Immunohistochemistry revealed restoration of Nrf2 and FOXP3, signifying potentiated antioxidant and immune regulation. KMP-SeNPs was confirmed to change molecular profiles toward protection based on principal component analysis. KMP-SeNPs may be a novel nanomedicine for the treatment of rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI.