Extracellular Vesicles – Advanced Nanocarriers in Cancer Therapy: Progress and Achievements

Abstract

Ting Huyan,1,2 Hongduo Li,3 Hourong Peng,1 Jinzhao Chen,4 Ruixin Yang,3 Wei Zhang,5 Qi Li1 1Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Special Environment Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, People’s Republic of China; 2Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE), Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, People’s Republic of China; 3Xi’an Institute for Food and Drug Control, Xi’an 710054, People’s Republic of China; 4Shanxi Weiqidaguangming Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Datong, Shanxi Province 037301, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Anesthesiology, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital (People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University), Zhengzhou 450003, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qi Li KeyLaboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Special Environment Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/ Fax [phone]Email [email protected] ZhangDepartment of Anesthesiology, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital (People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University), Zhengzhou 450003, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a class of cell-derived, lipid bilayer membrane composed vesicles, and some of them such as exosomes and ectosomes have been proven, playing remarkable roles in transmitting intercellular information, and being involved in each property of cell physiological activities. Nowadays, EVs are considered as potential nanocarriers which could partially resolve the problems of current chemotherapy because of their distinctive advantages. As endogenous membrane encompassed vesicles with nanosize, EVs are able to pass through the natural barriers with prolonged circulation time in vivo and have intrinsic cell targeting properties, they are less toxic, and less immunogenic. Recently, studies focusing on EV-based drug delivery system for cancer therapy have exploded dramatically. This review aims to outline the current applications of EVs as potential nanosized drug carriers in cancer therapy. Firstly, the characteristics and biofunctions of each EV subtype are described. Then the variety of therapeutic cargoes, the loading methods, and the targeting strategy of engineered EVs are emphatically introduced. Thereafter the pros and cons of EVs applied as therapeutic carriers, as well as the future prospects in this field, are discussed.Keywords: Extracellular vesicles, exosomes, nano-sized carriers, tumor, drug delivery system

Keywords

• extracellular vesicles
• exosomes
• nano-sized carriers
• tumor
• drug delivery system