Delocalized Lipophilic Cation Triphenyl Phosphonium: Promising Molecule for Mitochondria Targeting

The mitochondria are a dynamic powerhouse organelle that contributes greatly to cancer therapy. Solving the current problems that occur mostly in chemotherapy and diagnosis of various cancers targeting the Mitochondria is an implying approach. In this review, it is discussed how the tethering of mitochondrial-targeting moieties to chemotherapeutics, fluorescent dyes and photothermal molecules can enhance the anticancer effect. The most extensively used mitochondrial targeting conjugate is Triphenyl phosphonium (TPP), which is a delocalized lipophilic cation that gets easily accumulated via the endocytosis mechanism due to the decreased mitochondrial membrane potential of the cancer cell. Credited for this characteristic, TPP has been extensively investigated in targeting mitochondria and delivery of cancer theranostics. This mitochondrial targeting strategy attracted great attention in cancer targeting nanotechnology. The TPP based nanoformulation have exhibited amplified therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of various cancer. Thus, TPP is an ultimate carrier with magnificent potential as a mitochondrial targeting agent.