Technologies

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in a number of diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), movement disorders, diseases of the cardiovascular system, cancer, diabetes, blindness and deafness. Mitochondrial defects are damaging, particularly to tissues with high energy demands such as neural and muscle tissues. Membrane-penetrating antioxidants are often prescribed but treatment options are limited. Given the devastating effects of mitochondrial dysfunction, there have been extensive efforts to find alternative therapeutics for preserving mitochondrial function.

Researchers at the Biodesign Institute of Arizona State University have developed a suite of novel compounds for the treatment of mitochondrial disorders. These compounds are analogues of methylene blue and methylene violet and have been shown to blunt a number of the biochemical changes associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, without the cytotoxicity normally associated with the parent compounds. Further, these compounds were shown to be better antioxidants than the parent compounds.

These compounds represent a novel class of potential therapeutics for a variety of diseases associated with decreased mitochondrial function.