A DNA nanostructure-Hif-1α inducer complex as novel nanotherapy against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury

Since its discovery in 1978, cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens have served a pivotal role in human cancer treatment, saving millions of lives. However, its high risk still poses a significant challenge for cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI), which occurs in 30% of cisplatin-treated patients. Unfortunately, no effective solution for preventing or managing this severe complication, which greatly impacts its clinical administration. Kidney is the main organ injured by cisplatin, and the injury is related to cisplatin-induced cell apoptosis and DNA injury. Therefore, to achieve the safe use of cisplatin in tumour treatment, the key lies in identifying a kidney treatment that can effectively minimize cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Here, we successfully synthesized and applied a DNA-nanostructure complex, named TFG, which contains tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs) and FG-4592, a novel Hif-1α inducer. As cargo, TFG is composed entirely of DNA strands. It possesses low nephrotoxicity and renal aggregation properties while FG-4592 is able to relieve renal injury by downregulating the apoptosis signal pathways. And it can relieve cisplatin-induced renal injury when taken cisplatin treatment. This work aims to enhance chemotherapy protection in tumour patients by using TFG, a DNA-based nanomedicines to kidney. This work has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of renal diseases, particularly drug-induced kidney injury, leading to improved clinical outcomes.