Engineered and Mimicked Extracellular Nanovesicles for Therapeutic Delivery

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanomedicine
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Exosomes are nanovesicles derived from endosomes, crucial for intercellular communication.
• These extracellular vesicles (EVs) transport cellular contents, including nucleic acids and proteins, to recipient cells.
• Their natural targeting ability makes exosomes attractive for drug delivery applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the therapeutic potential of exosomes as drug delivery systems.
• To address challenges associated with the clinical application of exosomes.
• To review alternative exosome-based nanocarriers and their drug-loading strategies.

Main Methods:

• Review of exosome biogenesis and function.
• Analysis of hemisynthetic approaches, including cell-membrane coatings and exosome-liposome hybrids.
• Summary of drug-loading techniques for exosome-based carriers.
• Compilation of data from ongoing clinical trials involving exosomes.

Main Results:

• Exosomes can encapsulate and deliver therapeutic payloads to target cells.
• Hemisynthetic strategies and exosome-mimes offer viable alternatives to overcome limitations of natural exosomes.
• Various drug-loading methods are being developed to enhance therapeutic efficacy.
• Clinical trials are underway to evaluate the safety and efficacy of exosome-based therapies.

Conclusions:

• Exosomes and exosome-like structures hold significant potential for targeted drug delivery.
• Further research is needed to optimize exosome-based systems for reliable therapeutic applications.
• Addressing current challenges is crucial for the successful clinical translation of exosome-based therapeutics.