Smart Stimuli-Responsive and Mitochondria Targeting Delivery in Cancer Therapy

• Main Authors: Huang Y, Wang T, Tan Q, He D, Wu M, Fan J, Yang J, Zhong C, Li K, Zhang J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Nanomedicine
• Subjects: smart delivery; stimuli-responsive; mitochondria-targeting; tumor microenvironment; cancer therapy
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/smart-stimuli-responsive-and-mitochondria-targeting-delivery-in-cancer-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN

Yongjia Huang,1,* Tingting Wang,2,* Qunyou Tan,3,* Dan He,1,* Mingjun Wu,4,* Jingchuan Fan,4 Jie Yang,1 Cailing Zhong,1 Kailing Li,1 Jingqing Zhang1 1Chongqing Research Center for Pharmaceutical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 2Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Experimental Teaching and Management Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Thoracic Surgery, Daping Hospital of Army Medical University, PLA, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 4Institute of Life Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jingqing ZhangMedicine Engineering Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, No. 1, Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Email [e-mail]: Dysfunction in the mitochondria (Mc) contributes to tumor progression. It is a major challenge to deliver therapeutic agents specifically to the Mc for precise treatment. Smart drug delivery systems are based on stimuli-responsiveness and active targeting. Here, we give a whole list of documented pathways to achieve smart stimuli-responsive (St-) and Mc-targeted DDSs (St-Mc-DDSs) by combining St and Mc targeting strategies. We present the formulations, targeting characteristics of St-Mc-DDSs and clarify their anti-cancer mechanisms as well as improvement in efficacy and safety. St-Mc-DDSs usually not only have Mc-targeting groups, molecules (lipophilic cations, peptides, and aptamers) or materials but also sense the surrounding environment and correspondingly respond to internal biostimulators such as pH, redox changes, enzyme and glucose, and/or externally applied triggers such as light, magnet, temperature and ultrasound. St-Mc-DDSs exquisitely control the action site, increase therapeutic efficacy and decrease side effects of the drug. We summarize the clinical research progress and propose suggestions for follow-up research. St-Mc-DDSs may be an innovative and sensitive precision medicine for cancer treatment.Keywords: smart delivery, stimuli-responsive, mitochondria-targeting, tumor microenvironment, cancer therapy