NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS IN KIDNEY DISEASES

Abstract

Kidney diseases constitute a significant global health burden and are frequently associated with high morbidity, mortality, and complex comorbidities. Conventional pharmacotherapy for renal disorders is often limited by anatomical barriers, rapid renal clearance, altered pharmacokinetics, and substantial off-target toxicity, resulting in suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. These limitations have driven growing interest in advanced drug delivery technologies tailored to renal pathophysiology. A comprehensive narrative review was conducted to synthesise current evidence on novel drug delivery technologies and their clinical implications in kidney diseases. Peer-reviewed literature focusing on renal drug delivery systems, kidney-specific targeting strategies, disease-specific applications, and translational considerations was systematically analysed and thematically organised. The review identifies nanotechnology-based platforms, including nanoparticles, polymeric carriers, hydrogels, liposomes, and exosome-based systems, as promising approaches to enhance renal targeting and therapeutic precision. Kidney-specific delivery strategies, such as ligand-mediated and transporter based targeting, improve drug localization within distinct renal compartments while minimizing systemic exposure. These technologies demonstrate potential benefits across a range of renal disorders, including chronic kidney disease, diabetic kidney disease, autoimmune nephropathies, and genetic kidney conditions. Emerging trends highlight the integration of biologically derived carriers and genomics-informed delivery designs to support precision medicine. Novel drug delivery technologies represent a transformative advancement in renal therapeutics, offering improved efficacy, reduced toxicity, and greater potential for personalized treatment. Continued translational research and clinical validation are essential to facilitate their integration into routine nephrology practice.