Mitochondrial delivery of aggregation-induced emission active molecules via a micellar nanocarrier

Abstract

Mitochondrial delivery of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active molecules is critical for their imaging/therapeutic applications. However, nanocarrier-based mitochondrial delivery via an endocytosis approach limits the targeting ability due to lysosomal entrapment. In this work, we report an amino acid-based polymer nanomicelle for mitochondrial delivery of small molecules within 5 minutes via a non-endocytic process that bypasses lysosomal trafficking. The nanocarrier facilitates direct membrane penetration and delivery of AIE molecules that enables mitochondria delivery without endosomal/lysosomal trapping. This approach may be extended to the mitochondrial-targeted therapeutic application of AIE molecules.