title: Targeted drug delivery to mammalian mitochondria in living cells.
abstract: Mitochondrial dysfunction causes or contributes to a large number of human disorders including neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, ischaemia-reperfusion injury and cancer. Increasing efforts are being made towards mitochondria-directed pharmacological intervention, leading to the emergence of 'mitochondrial medicine' as a new field of biomedical research. The identification of new molecular mitochondrial drug targets in combination with the development of methods for selectively delivering biologically active molecules to the site of mitochondria will eventually launch new therapies for the treatment of mitochondria-related diseases, based either on the selective protection, repair or eradication of cells. This review discusses the need for the development of mitochondria-specific drug and DNA delivery systems, and evaluates the currently employed strategies for mitochondrial drug targeting, including some of their potential therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: Northeastern University, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Bouve College of Health Sciences, 360 Huntington Avenue, 211 Mugar, Boston, MA 02115, USA. v.weissig@neu.edu
authors.forename: Volkmar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Weissig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D004247:DNA