Mitochondria-Targeting Chemodynamic Therapy Nanodrugs for Cancer Treatment

Qiaohui Chen; Niansheng Li; Xiaoyuan Wang; Yuqi Yang; Yuting Xiang; Xingyu Long; Jinping Zhang; Jia Huang; Li Chen; Qiong Huang

doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.847048

Mitochondria-Targeting Chemodynamic Therapy Nanodrugs for Cancer Treatment

Front Pharmacol. 2022 Jan 10:13:847048. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.847048. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Qiaohui Chen^{1

2}, Niansheng Li^{1

2}, Xiaoyuan Wang^{1

2}, Yuqi Yang^{3

4}, Yuting Xiang^{1

2}, Xingyu Long^{1

2}, Jinping Zhang^{3

4}, Jia Huang^{1

2}, Li Chen^{1

2}, Qiong Huang^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.
² Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.
³ Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
⁴ National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Abstract

Mitochondria, as one of the most critical subcellular organelles of cancer cells, are very vulnerable and often on the verge of oxidative stress. The classic chemodynamic therapy (CDT) directly employs endogenous chemical energy to trigger reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst and destroy tumor cells. However, the effectiveness of CDT is restricted by the limited diffusion distance and short half-life of ROS. From this perspective, the treatment method (mitochondria-targeting chemodynamic therapy nanodrugs, M-CDT nanodrugs) that can generate high levels of ROS at the mitochondrial site is extremely efficient and promising for cancer treatment. Currently, many emerging M-CDT nanodrugs have been demonstrated excellent spatial specificity and anti-cancer efficacy. In this minireview, we review various proof-of-concept researches based on different M-CDT nanodrugs designs to overcome the limits of the efficacy of CDT, mainly divided into four strategies: supplying H₂O₂, non-H₂O₂ dependent CDT, eliminating GSH and enhancing by hyperthermia therapy (HT). These well-designed M-CDT nanodrugs greatly increase the efficacy of CDT. Finally, the progress and potential of M-CDT nanodrugs are discussed, as well as their limitations and opportunities.

Keywords: cancer therapy; chemodynamic therapy; mitochondria-targeting; nanomaterials; reactive oxygen species.

Publication types

Review