Assessing mitochondria-targeted acyl hydroquinones on the mitochondrial platelet function and cytotoxic activity: Role of the linker length.

There was an increase in cytotoxic activity directly related to the length of the acyl chain and lipophilicity, as seen by three techniques, and this was consistent with a decrease in ΔΨm. The in silico energetic profiles point out that the permeability of the mitochondrial membrane may be involved in the cytotoxicity of phosphonium salts. This information may be relevant for the design of new TPP -based drugs with a safe cardiovascular profile.