Microscopic and ultrastructural insights into the nephro-therapeutic role of chitosan nanoparticles against streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy

Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent chronic disease, with diabetic nephropathy being a significant complication that causes structural alterations in the kidneys. The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of nano-chitosan (NCh) on the kidneys of rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ). NCh was prepared and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy technique (EDX) and zeta potential. A total of 40 male Sprague Dawley albino rats (225 ± 25 grams, 2.5-3 months old) were involved and divided into 4 equal groups, each with 10 rats: Control (Ctrl), non-diabetic-administered with 0.5 mg/kg B.W NCh (NCh), diabetic induced by STZ intraperitoneally (Diabetic), and diabetic treated with NCh at 0.5 mg/kg B.W (Diabetic-NCh). Seven days post-diabetic induction, NCh was inoculated orally for 21 days once a day. Body weight change and kidney function tests (creatinine and urea), as well as renal histopathological, histochemical (collagen fibers), immunohistochemical; alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), and ultrastructural studies were involved. The findings indicated that diabetic-NCh treated rats exhibited improvements in body weight and kidney function tests including creatinine and urea, compared to the diabetic rats. NCh treatment enhanced renal tissue architecture and reduced collagen fiber expression. Immunohistochemical analysis showed decreased concentrations of αSMA and TGF-β1 in the Diabetic-NCh group. Ultrastructural studies confirmed the improvement in kidney tissue structure. In conclusion, oral administration of nano-chitosan demonstrated a potential therapeutic effect on kidneys in diabetic rats, suggesting its promise as a treatment strategy for diabetic nephropathy.