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Small extracellular vesicles-based drug delivery systems for therapies of gastrointestinal tumours
Lan Luo1,2, Dongli Wang1,2, Wenrong Xu1,2
1Aoyang Institute of Cancer, Affiliated Aoyang Hospital of Jiangsu University, Suzhou, China.
Abstract:
Gastrointestinal tumours pose a significant threat to human health. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have emerged as a promising approach for drug delivery in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumours. sEVs exhibit intrinsic advantages over synthetic nanoparticles, including native targeting ligands, the ability to cross biological barriers via membrane fusion, and reduced immune clearance mediated by surface CD47, thereby overcoming limitations of conventional nanocarriers such as rapid opsonisation and hepatic sequestration. These minute vesicles are surrounded by a stable phospholipid bilayer and can be engineered with specific targeting ligands or loaded with diverse therapeutic cargoes, thereby overcoming the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems (DDSs) and improving tumour-specific accumulation while minimising off-target effects. In this review, we explore the recent advancements in sEV-based DDSs, with a focus on design approaches for engineered sEVs, immunotherapy-related engineered sEVs technologies and the utilisation of engineered sEVs in gastrointestinal tumours. Additionally, we discuss the current challenges and future prospects of sEV-based DDSs in clinical practice, underscore the innovative role of engineered sEVs in cancer therapy, and provide promising avenues for enhancing the treatment of gastrointestinal tumours and improving patient outcomes.
Insights
Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) offer a novel drug delivery system for gastrointestinal tumours. Engineered sEVs enhance drug accumulation and reduce side effects, improving cancer therapy outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Gastrointestinal tumours represent a major global health challenge.
- Conventional drug delivery systems (DDSs) face limitations like rapid clearance and off-target effects.
- Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are emerging as a promising alternative for targeted drug delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in sEV-based DDSs for gastrointestinal tumours.
- To explore design strategies for engineered sEVs.
- To discuss the potential of sEVs in cancer immunotherapy and clinical applications.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on sEVs in drug delivery.
- Analysis of sEV engineering techniques for targeting and cargo loading.
- Examination of sEV applications in gastrointestinal cancer models and clinical studies.
Main Results:
- sEVs possess inherent advantages over synthetic nanoparticles, including natural targeting and reduced immune clearance.
- Engineered sEVs can be customized for enhanced tumour specificity and therapeutic cargo delivery.
- sEV-based DDSs show potential in overcoming limitations of conventional therapies for gastrointestinal cancers.
Conclusions:
- Engineered sEVs represent an innovative approach for cancer therapy, particularly for gastrointestinal tumours.
- Further research and clinical translation are needed to fully realize the potential of sEV-based DDSs.
- sEVs offer promising avenues for improving treatment efficacy and patient outcomes in gastrointestinal oncology.
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