Mitochondria transplantation/transfer between single cells

Abstract

Mitochondrial transplantation/transfer has been increasingly recognized as a potential way for cell and tissue revitalization. In a recent study, Gabelein et al. reported a novel method for single cells mitochondria transplantation using "nanosyringe". This technique combines atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy, and nanofluidics that enable intra- and intercellular organelle micromanipulation and cell-to-cell mitochondria transplantation with up to 95% success rate. The transferred mitochondria fuse to the host mitochondrial network and donor mtDNA incorporate into the recipient mitochondrial genome. The nanosyringe technique provides a novel tool for future mitochondrial research to offer insight into mitochondrial replacement therapy for stroke and fundamental mitochondrial biology.

Keywords: Mitochondria; mitochondrial transfer; mitochondrial transplantation; nanosyringe; revitalization.

Figure 1.

Therapeutic application of mitochondrial transplantation using the cell-to-cell nanosyringe. Mitochondria of a healthy donor cell are extracted and rapidly injected into a recipient cell. Most of the transplanted mitochondria will fuse with the recipient mitochondria network with a few degrade.