Abstract

Selective induction of cancer cell death remains a central goal of modern oncology, yet conventional 
chemotherapeutics often lack specificity, leading to systemic toxicity and therapeutic resistance. Organelle
targeted nanotechnology has emerged as a powerful strategy to overcome these limitations by directing 
therapeutic agents precisely to intracellular organelles that govern survival, metabolism, and death signaling. 
Mitochondria, nucleus, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus each play distinct roles in 
regulating apoptosis, autophagy, redox balance, and stress responses, making them highly attractive targets for 
precision cancer therapy. Nanotechnology enables the rational design of nanoscale systems capable of crossing 
cellular and subcellular barriers, sensing intracellular cues, and releasing therapeutic payloads at defined 
organellar sites. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of organelle-targeted nanotechnology for 
selective cancer cell death. We discuss the biological rationale for targeting specific organelles, design principles 
of organelle-directed nanocarriers, and mechanistic pathways through which localized damage induces 
apoptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, or immunogenic cell death. Current preclinical advances, emerging 
combinatorial strategies, and translational challenges are critically evaluated. Organelle-targeted 
nanotherapeutics represent a transformative platform for achieving high therapeutic precision and durable 
anticancer responses.