Mitochondria-targeted drug delivery for aging-related diseases: a review of mechanisms and strategies
This review describes how mitochondria change with aging and how mitochondria-targeted delivery systems aim to raise drug concentrations inside these organelles in aging-related diseases. Most evidence comes from disease models; clinical translation is limited by unstable targeting, material safety, manufacturing complexity and missing standards. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review links mitochondrial dysfunction in aging to neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disorders, sarcopenia and osteoarthritis. [1]
The review covers passive targeting, stimuli-responsive systems, active targeting and biomimetic platforms, plus NAD supplementation, mitochondrial gene delivery, vesicle-mediated mitochondrial delivery and mitochondrial transplantation. [1]
Potential to restore mitochondrial homeostasis and tissue functionality was shown in disease models, while clinical translation is limited by unstable targeting, material safety, manufacturing complexity and missing standards. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Narrative review (abstract only)
- Population / context
- Not specified in the abstract; the review addresses aging-related diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disorders, sarcopenia and osteoarthritis.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- October 16, 2026
Aging mitochondria and four aging-related disease groups
The review starts from mitochondrial dysfunction in aging: more oxidative stress, impaired energy metabolism, disrupted mitochondrial dynamics, abnormal quality control and activation of apoptosis. The authors link these changes to a range of aging-related diseases, naming neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disorders, sarcopenia and osteoarthritis. The stated aim is to summarize structural and functional changes in mitochondria during aging and their associations with these diseases. The wording describes associations, not proven causes.
Supporting source [1]
Four delivery strategies plus emerging mitochondrial interventions
The review covers design principles, mechanisms of action and applications of four kinds of mitochondria-targeted delivery: passive targeting, stimuli-responsive systems, active targeting and biomimetic platforms. It also discusses emerging interventions: NAD supplementation, mitochondrial gene delivery, delivery of mitochondria via extracellular vesicles and mitochondrial transplantation. The abstract does not report which specific molecules, diseases or models were tested for each strategy, nor any numerical results.
Supporting source [1]
Model-level potential, but clinical translation still constrained
According to the abstract, these systems have shown potential to restore mitochondrial homeostasis and tissue functionality in various disease models. That is evidence from models, not demonstrated benefit in patients. The authors list obstacles to clinical translation: targeting efficacy that is unstable under pathological conditions, insufficient long-term safety of materials, manufacturing complexity and a lack of standardized evaluation criteria. They suggest future work should combine disease heterogeneity, advanced materials and multi-omics technologies to move toward standardization, individualization and combined diagnosis and therapy.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. No specific studies, models, doses or numerical results are reported here, so the described potential rests on disease models, not demonstrated patient benefit.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Zhang F, Ma H, Zhou S, Ran S, Abulajiang M, Li S, Zhang Q. · europepmc.org · October 16, 2026