A mitochondrial delivery system using liposome-based nanocarriers that target myoblast cells

Mitochondrial function is reduced in skeletal muscles of many patients with systemic diseases and it is difficult to deliver medicinal substances to mitochondria in such tissue. In this study, we report on attempts to develop liposome-based carriers for mitochondrial delivery using mouse myoblasts (C2C12) by varying the lipid composition of the carriers. We found that a liposome that contains an optimal lipid modified with the KALA peptide (a cellular uptake and mitochondrial targeting device) was the most effective nanocarrier for achieving mitochondrial delivery in C2C12 cells. We also report on successful mitochondrial transgene expression using the carriers encapsulating a mitochondrial DNA vector as we previously reported. •We succeeded in developing a nano carrier for mitochondrial delivery using myoblasts.•We also report on successful mitochondrial transgene expression using this carrier.•A KALA peptide modification to a liposome was effective for mitochondrial delivery.