Work

Encapsulated mitochondrial transplantation: Advancing organelle therapeutics

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In a recent study published in Cell, Du and colleagues developed an erythrocyte membrane-based mitochondrial encapsulation platform that enables efficient transfer of functional mitochondria across cells and tissues, thereby overcoming a major delivery bottleneck in conventional mitochondrial transplantation. 1 Encapsulated mitochondria restored mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and bioenergetic function, reduced pathogenic heteroplasmy in patient-derived mitochondrial disease models, and improved pathological phenotypes in mouse models of Leigh syndrome, mtDNA depletion syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease, highlighting the translational potential of engineered mitochondrial transplantation for organelle therapeutics.

Source: Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy

DOI: 10.1038/s41392-026-02959-z

Authors: Hae-Jun Yang, Pil-Soo Jeong, Sun-Uk Kim

Institutions: Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Korea University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Mitochondrial Function and Pathology

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,790