Revolutionary fluorescent complex encapsulating berberine for the treatment of diabetic kidney disease

Abstract

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in China has reached epidemic levels, diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is characterized by impaired renal function and increased urinary albumin excretion. About 40 % of diabetic patients will develop DKD or even end-stage renal disease. Effective pharmacologic strategies are crucial for treating DKD—a serious complication causing disability and death. In this study, two cobalt(II) ion-based coordination polymers (CPs), [Co(L)2(DNSA)] (1) and [Co(L)(1,4-bdc)]n (2), were synthesized using cobalt(II) nitrate hexahydrate and 2-(1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)phenol under hydrothermal conditions. Fluorescence testing indicated ligand-based emission peaks, with CP1 showing a slight intensity increase and CP2 exhibiting significantly enhanced fluorescence due to its high-rigidity 3D framework. A polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified CPs loaded with berberine, termed PEG-CPs@Berberine, was synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). This drug delivery system was evaluated in cell experiments, demonstrating its effectiveness in regulating ferroptosis and enhancing podocyte proliferation. The system's benefits for the therapy of DKD were established, and the specific mechanism was also explored.