Background: Interest in subcellular organelle-targeting theranostics is substantially increasing due to the significance of subcellular organelle-targeting drug delivery for maximizing therapeutic effects and minimizing side effects, as well as the significance of theranostics for delivering therapeutics at the correct locations and doses for diseases throughout diagnosis. Among organelles, mitochondria have received substantial attention due to their significant controlling functions in cells.
Main body: With the necessity of subcellular organelle-targeting drug delivery and theranostics, examples of mitochondria-targeting moieties and types of mitochondria-targeting theranostics were introduced. In addition, the current studies of mitochondria-targeting theranostic chemicals, chemical conjugates, and nanosystems were summarized.
Conclusion: With the current issues of mitochondria-targeting theranostic chemicals, chemical conjugates, and nanosystems, their potentials and alternatives are discussed.
Keywords: Diagnostics; Drug delivery; Mitochondria-targeting; Subcellular targeting; Theranostics.