Researchers coat mitochondria in metal-organic frameworks

Researchers at the BraiNs joint laboratory, involving the Politecnico di Milano and the IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, have successfully coated mitochondria with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) without disrupting their energy production.

Mitochondria are the organelles responsible for converting food into chemical energy, but they are notoriously fragile. The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, demonstrates that these advanced materials—composed of metal components connected by organic molecules—can be applied to the mitochondrial surface while preserving the organelle's ability to function.

This breakthrough holds potential for treating mitochondrial diseases, which affect approximately one in 5,000 people. Such disorders often cause muscle weakness, seizures, and developmental delays, particularly impacting high-energy tissues like the brain and muscles. The ability to use tailored MOFs to modify mitochondrial surfaces could open new avenues in medicine and biotechnology.