Abstract: Mitochondria play a crucial role in maintaining the normal function of kidney resident cells. Hyperglycemia resulting from diabetes can disrupt mitochondrial homeostasis and increase oxidative stress, leading to damage in kidney cells and contributing to the development of diabetic nephropathy. Therefore, the development of small molecule drugs that target mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance could offer new treatment options for diabetic nephropathy. This paper will provide a comprehensive review of recent research advancements in drugs targeting mitochondrial homeostasis, mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial antioxidants.

Key words: diabetic nephropathy, mitochondria, mitochondrial homeostasis, targeted therapy