Recent Advancements on the Use of Exosomes as Drug Carriers for the Treatment of Glioblastoma

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive cancer of the brain. Presently, GBM patients have a poor prognosis, and therapy primarily aims to extend the life expectancy of affected patients. The current treatment of GBM in adult cases and high-grade gliomas in the pediatric population involves a multimodal approach that includes surgical resection followed by simultaneous chemo/radiotherapy. Exosomes are nanoparticles that transport proteins and nucleic acids and play a crucial role in mediating intercellular communication. Recent evidence suggests that these microvesicles may be used as biological carriers and offer significant advantages in targeted therapy. Due to their inherent cell-targeting properties, circulation stability, and biocompatibility, exosomes are emerging as promising new carriers for drugs and biotherapeutics. Furthermore, these nanovesicles are a repository of potential diagnostic and prognostic markers. In this review, we focus on the therapeutic potentials of exosomes in nano-delivery and describe the latest evidence of their use as a therapeutic tool in GBM.

Keywords: exosomes; glioblastoma; therapy.

Figure 1

Exosome-based therapy workflow: Outline of the steps typically involved in developing novel therapies based on exosomes derived directly from GBM tumors. GBM cells secrete exosomes that carry a variety of proteins and nucleic acids. These exosomes can be isolated and modified by loading cargoes such as anti-tumor drugs and anti-microRNA (miRNA)s. In this way, the advantages of exosomes, such as their ability to cross the BBB and target specific cells based on their surface proteins, can be used to direct therapy to the tumor site. Consequently, exosome vehicles may help to overcome chemoresistance in GBM.

Figure 2

Techniques for exosome isolation, purification, and characterization.

Figure 3

Schematic illustration of the process of engineering exosomes with the cargoes described in the text (miR, anti-miR, and drugs).