Mitochondria-Targeted Nanotherapeutics: A Promising Strategy in Modulating Mitochondrial Function, Transfer, and Transplantation.

Mitochondria, as organelles with a critical role in maintaining cellular activities, are also vulnerable to dysfunction, which contributes substantially to the pathogenesis of various systemic diseases. Nanomaterials, owing to their tunable physicochemical properties and precise bio-interfacial capabilities, offer innovative platforms not only for delivering general mitochondria-targeted therapy but also for enabling-with promising potential-the emerging paradigms of mitochondrial transfer and transplantation. Nevertheless, a dedicated review systematically summarizing progress in this specific subfield is lacking. To fill this knowledge gap, this review provides a structured synthesis that spans from the biological basis of mitochondrial function and transfer to the broad applications of nanomaterials in mitochondria-targeted therapies, with a dedicated analysis of their roles in mitochondrial targeting, functional modulation, and gene editing. A key topic of this review is the emerging role of nanomaterials in assisting mitochondrial transplantation and transfer. By integrating these insights, this work bridges nanotechnology and mitochondrial medicine, offering a valuable resource for developing organelle-specific therapeutics.