Plant-derived exosomes: a green approach for cancer drug delivery

Shrishti Madhan1, Rajib Dhar1, Arikketh Devi1

  • 1Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District - 603 203, Tamil Nadu, India. devia@srmist.edu.in.

PubMed

Insights

Plant-derived exosomes (PDEs), natural vesicles from plants, show promise for cancer therapy due to their anticancer properties and low toxicity. PDEs offer a novel drug delivery system with potential for effective, affordable cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Nanomedicine
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Plant-derived exosomes (PDEs) are natural extracellular vesicles (EVs) gaining attention for cancer therapeutic development.
  • Cancer requires effective, affordable treatments with fewer side effects, a need PDEs may address.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current research on plant-derived exosomes for drug delivery and cancer therapy.
  • To highlight the anticancer potential, challenges, and future directions of PDEs.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on plant-derived exosomes.
  • Analysis of extraction methodologies (ultracentrifugation, immunoaffinity, size-based isolation, precipitation).
  • Examination of PDE composition (lipids, proteins, DNA, RNA) and their therapeutic implications.

Main Results:

  • PDEs exhibit significant anticancer activity with reduced toxicity.
  • PDE-based drug delivery systems show potential to overcome limitations of traditional methods.
  • Ongoing clinical trials and evolving regulatory landscape for PDEs.

Conclusions:

  • Plant-derived exosomes represent a promising therapeutic avenue for cancer treatment.
  • Further research is needed to clarify regulatory pathways and optimize PDE applications.
  • PDEs offer a potentially effective, affordable, and less toxic approach to cancer therapy.