End stage kidney disease (ESKD) has become a major public health issue across the globe. Over 2 million people worldwide receive treatment for ESKD through dialysis or kidney transplantation every year. The increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease and shortage of donor organs for transplantation have pushed the need for alternative treatment options at the forefront. Scientists have been working for decades to develop an artificial kidney – a device that can mimic the functions of a real kidney and potentially provide a long term treatment option for patients with kidney failure. In recent years, significant technological advancements have brought the prospect of an implantable bioartificial kidney closer to reality.
Functioning of the Human Kidney
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located near the mid-back area. They play a vital role in filtering waste and excess fluid from the blood. Each day, the kidneys process around 200 liters of blood to filter out nearly two liters of waste and extra water. The filtered blood is returned back into circulation, while the waste is removed from the body through urine. The kidneys also help regulate other important functions like blood pressure, electrolyte and acid-base balance. When the kidneys are damaged and unable to effectively filter waste, dangerous levels of toxins, fluids and minerals accumulate in the blood. This is considered end stage kidney disease.
Limitations of Current Treatment Options
The two major treatment options currently available for ESKD patients are dialysis and kidney transplantation. However, both have significant limitations.
Dialysis involves mechanically filtering waste from the blood using a dialysis machine, as the kidneys can no longer function naturally. Though dialysis keeps patients alive, it is a time consuming process often done multiple times a week. Patients on dialysis also experience poor quality of life and are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and infections.
Kidney transplantation is the best treatment option. However, there is a huge shortage of donor organs compared to the number of ESKD patients waiting for a kidney transplant worldwide. Many patients spend years on the transplant waitlist. Transplant recipients must also take immunosuppressive medications life-long to prevent organ rejection, which increases risks of other health complications.
Coherent Market Insights explains Technological Developments in Artificial Kidney Market
To overcome these challenges, scientists have been working on developing fully implantable bioartificial kidneys that can potentially restore near-normal kidney function for patients with ESKD. Here are some significant advances in this area:
Microchip dialyzers: Researchers at the University of California developed a microchip-based dialyzer that can function like over a million miniaturized dialysis cartridges.
Kidney organoids: Scientists engineered functional kidney structures called organoids from human stem cells that could potentially be used to replace damaged kidney tissues.
Encapsulated cell technology: Dr. Shuvo Roy’s group grew human kidney cells on porous capsules which when implanted in rats were able to filter waste. This protects cells from host immune response.
3D bioprinting: Researchers are exploiting this technology to precisely arrange various kidney cell types in a 3D geometry to replicate the structure and function of a kidney.
Implantable bioartificial organs: Carmel Biosensors developed a wearable artificial kidney prototype that can perform both filtration and metabolic functions of a kidney. It is undergoing preclinical studies and aims for first human trials by 2025.
Market Outlook
The global market for artificial kidneys is projected to witness significant growth over the next decade. Factors such as increasing incidence of chronic kidney diseases, rising geriatric population, shortage of donor organs and the need for alternative treatment options are expected to drive substantial demand. North America currently dominates the artificial kidney market owing to concentration of leading industry players and availability of advanced healthcare infrastructure to support technological innovations. However, Asia Pacific region is expected to emerge as the fastest growing market in the coming years led by large patient population, improving access to healthcare and heavy government support for kidney disease research in countries like China and India. While an implantable artificial kidney is still in development stages, ongoing technological advancements and research hold promise to potentially revolutionize kidney disease treatment landscape. For more detail on key players, latest innovations and market forecast, refer to the report on Artificial Kidneys published on Coherent Market Insights.
