Functional molecules and nano-materials for the Golgi apparatus-targeted imaging and therapy

The Golgi apparatus is a dynamic membrane-bounded flattened cisternae in eukaryotic cells and responsible for biosynthesis, secretion, and intracellular signaling transduction. The dysfunction of the Golgi apparatus is related to a series of diseases including cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Sensitive and selective imaging of the Golgi structure or Golgi-related biomolecules provide valuable tools for in-depth understanding of the Golgi structure-function relationship and Golgi-related diseases. The last two decades have witnessed an explosion in the Golgi-targeting strategies, the combination of which with new imaging methods and nanotechnologies providing valuable tools for the Golgi-targeted biosensing, drug discovery and therapy. This review summarizes the different strategies for the Golgi imaging and therapy from historical origin to current development, discusses the advantages and limitations, and highlights possible future directions.