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Review
. 2017 Mar;2(1):70-80.
doi: 10.1002/btm2.10059. Epub 2017 Apr 3.

Emerging applications of exosomes in cancer therapeutics and diagnostics

Sahil Inamdar  1 , Rajeshwar Nitiyanandan  2 , Kaushal Rege  1
Affiliations
Review

Emerging applications of exosomes in cancer therapeutics and diagnostics

Sahil Inamdar et al. Bioeng Transl Med. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles that are shed from different cells in the body. Exosomes encapsulate several biomolecules including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, and can therefore play a key role in cellular communication. These vesicles can be isolated from different body fluids and their small sizes make them attractive in various biomedical applications. Here, we review state-of-the art approaches in exosome isolation and purification, and describe their potential use in cancer vaccines, drug delivery, and diagnostics.

Keywords: drug delivery; immunotherapies; nanobiology; patient‐targeted therapies.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic showing the release of exosomes and other vesicles from cells. Adapted from Ref. 8
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic of the polymer‐based precipitation method used for the isolation of exosomes. Adapted from Ref. 54
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic of the size‐exclusion chromatography approach employed for the isolation and purification of exosomes. Adapted from Ref. 58
Figure 4
Figure 4
In vivo delivery of doxorubicin (Dox)‐loaded exosomes across the blood brain barrier in zebrafish model. Significant inhibition of VEGF was observed in Dox‐loaded exosomes compared to untreated controls and those treated with unencapsulated doxorubicin. Adapted from Ref. 35
Figure 5
Figure 5
miRNA biomarker expression levels in tumor and exosome‐derived samples showing comparable levels of miRNA between the two sample types. Adapted from Ref. 104
Figure 6
Figure 6
miRNA profile comparison between tumor and circulating exosomes. Adapted from Ref. 104
Figure 7
Figure 7
Interactions of dendritic cell‐derived exosomes and tumor‐derived exosomes with inflammatory cells. Reproduced with permission from Creative Commons. Adapted from Ref. 117
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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