Nanotechnology-targeted modulation of mitophagy in cancer therapy: Progress and challenges

The clinical efficacy of current cancer treatments remains insufficient, creating an urgent need to identify new therapeutic targets and combine them with traditional treatment methods. Mitophagy, a crucial mechanism for the intracellular clearance of damaged mitochondria, has shown tremendous potential in cancer therapy. However, accurately and effectively regulating mitophagy remains a significant challenge. In some years, nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have attracted considerable attention due to their high targeting ability and deep tissue penetration. Therefore, applying nanotechnology to regulate mitophagy may offer new therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the targeted regulation of mitophagy using nanotechnology, including the use of nanoparticle carriers alone or in combination with other cancer therapies. Additionally, we discuss the development of mitophagy, the relevant signaling pathways, the relationship between mitophagy and cancer, drugs that modulate mitophagy, and methods for detecting mitophagy. Finally, we explore the prospects and challenges of using nanotechnology to target and regulate mitophagy in cancer therapy.

Statement of significance

This review underscores the therapeutic relevance of mitophagy in cancer, focusing on its selective role in mitochondrial quality control and tumor regulation. Given the challenges in precise mitophagy modulation, we highlight the emergence of nanotechnology based delivery systems as a promising solution. The review covers mitophagy mechanisms, associated pathways, detection techniques, mitophagy modu lating agents, and nanoparticle strategies— both standalone and combinatorial. It further discusses translational opportunities and technical barriers, offering a concise, integrative perspective on how nanomedicine can enable targeted mitophagy interventio n for improved cancer therapy.