The utility of an isolated mitochondrial fraction in the preparation of liposomes for the specific delivery of bioactives to mitochondria in live mammalian cells.

Purpose: To develop and evaluate liposomal formulations prepared with an isolated mitochondrial fraction as a mitochondria-specific delivery vehicle.

Methods: Liposomes were prepared with either a crude mitochondrial fraction extracted from cells or lipids extracted from the crude mitochondrial fraction and were then characterized by determining their size and zeta potential. The cell uptake of the liposomes and loaded bioactive was studied using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.

Approaches for targeting mitochondria in cancer therapy.

The recognition of the role that mitochondria play in human health and disease is evidenced by the emergence in recent decades of a whole new field of "Mitochondrial Medicine". Molecules located on or inside mitochondria are considered prime pharmacological targets and a wide range of efforts are underway to exploit these targets to develop targeted therapies for various diseases including cancer. However the concept of targeting, while seemingly simple in theory, has multiple subtly different practical approaches.