Exosome-mediated radioprotection: multimodal mechanisms and therapeutic innovations

Although there are already treatments for radiation damage, including stem cell transplantation, standard cancer treatments that may impair the growth and development of healthy cells have a number of disadvantages, such as severe immunological rejection and numerous side effects. With their cell-free properties, exosomes have demonstrated significant therapeutic potential as a novel treatment approach for radiation-induced tissue damage. Because of their effective tissue penetration, targeting specificity, and the protective nature of their natural phospholipid bilayer structure, exosomes have the potential to become a drug-targeted delivery system for radiation therapy and a biomarker for radiation damage in addition to influencing the damaged tissues by controlling DNA damage, oxidative stress, immune response, and inflammatory response to lessen the negative effects of radiation damage on patients. Exosomes are anticipated to play a major role in the prevention and treatment of radiation damage, leading to new advancements in cancer treatment and nuclear disaster response, provided that technological advancements and related challenges, such as the diversity of contents, the lack of quality control, and safety issues, are resolved.