title: Mitochondria and neurodegenerative diseases: the promising role of nanotechnology in targeted drug delivery.
abstract: Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) represent a group of different clinical entities that, despite the specific primary etiologies, share a common signature in terms of a general mitochondrial dysfunction with consequent oxidative stress accumulation. As these two events occur early during neurodegenerative process, they could be considered ideal therapeutic targets. Areas covered: This review describes the nanotechnologies explored for the specific targeted delivery of drugs, in order to precisely direct molecules into the intended site, where they can practice their therapeutic effects. Expert opinion: Conventional drug delivery systems cannot provide adequate restoration and connection patterns that are essential for a functional recovery in NDs. Since orally delivered antioxidants are easily destroyed by acids and enzymes, only a small portion of consumed antioxidants gets absorbed, leading to low bioavailability and low concentration at the target site. In this scenario, the identification of new proenergetic drugs, in combination with the development of methods for selectively delivering biologically active molecules into mitochondria, will potentially launch new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of NDs, where energetic imbalance plays a central role.
authors.affiliation: a The BioRobotics Institute , Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna , Pisa , Italy.|b Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pezzini
authors.affiliation: b Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Virgilio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mattoli
authors.affiliation: b Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA , Pisa , Italy.|c Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , Politecnico di Torino , Torino , Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciofani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: Neurodegenerative diseases; ROS; drug targeting; mitochondrial targeting; nanomedicine; oxidative stress