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Ubanako P, Mirza S, Ruff P, Penny C. Exosome-mediated delivery of siRNA molecules in cancer therapy: triumphs and challenges. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1447953. [PMID: 39355533 PMCID: PMC11442288 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1447953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The discovery of novel and innovative therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment and management remains a major global challenge. Exosomes are endogenous nanoscale extracellular vesicles that have garnered increasing attention as innovative vehicles for advanced drug delivery and targeted therapy. The attractive physicochemical and biological properties of exosomes, including increased permeability, biocompatibility, extended half-life in circulation, reduced toxicity and immunogenicity, and multiple functionalization strategies, have made them preferred drug delivery vehicles in cancer and other diseases. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are remarkably able to target any known gene: an attribute harnessed to knock down cancer-associated genes as a viable strategy in cancer management. Extensive research on exosome-mediated delivery of siRNAs for targeting diverse types of cancer has yielded promising results for anticancer therapy, with some formulations progressing through clinical trials. This review catalogs recent advances in exosome-mediated siRNA delivery in several types of cancer, including the manifold benefits and minimal drawbacks of such innovative delivery systems. Additionally, we have highlighted the potential of plant-derived exosomes as innovative drug delivery systems for cancer treatment, offering numerous advantages such as biocompatibility, scalability, and reduced toxicity compared to traditional methods. These exosomes, with their unique characteristics and potential for effective siRNA delivery, represent a significant advancement in nanomedicine and cancer therapeutics. Further exploration of their manufacturing processes and biological mechanisms could significantly advance natural medicine and enhance the efficacy of exosome-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philemon Ubanako
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sheefa Mirza
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Paul Ruff
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Clement Penny
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Samal S, Panda GP, Shyamal S, Das K, Dash M. Surface Engineered Osteoblast-Extracellular Vesicles Serve as an Efficient Carrier for Drug and Small RNA to Actively Target Osteosarcoma. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024. [PMID: 39150495 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare malignant tumor that affects soft tissue and has high rates of lung metastasis and mortality. The primary treatments for OS include preoperative chemotherapy, surgical resection of the lesion, and postoperative chemotherapy. However, OS chemotherapy presents critical challenges related to treatment toxicity and multiple drug resistance. To address these challenges, nanotechnology has developed nanosystems that release drugs directly to OS cells, reducing the drug's toxicity. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized lipid-bilayer bound vesicles that act as cell-derived vehicles and drug delivery systems for several cancers. This study aims to utilize EVs for OS management by co-delivering Hdac1 siRNA and zoledronic acid (zol). The EVs' surface is modified with folic acid (FA) and their targeting ability is compared to that of native EVs. The results showed that the EVs' targeting ability depends on the parent cell source, and FA conjugation further enhanced it. Furthermore, EVs were used as the carrier for co-loading drug (zol) and small RNA (Hdac-1). This approach of using surface engineered EVs as carriers for cargo loading and delivery can be a promising strategy for osteosarcoma management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasmita Samal
- BRIC - Institute of Life Sciences (BRIC-ILS), Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | | | - Sharmishtha Shyamal
- BRIC - Institute of Life Sciences (BRIC-ILS), Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India
- ICMR - National Institute for Reproduction Biology and Child Health, Mumbai 400012, India
| | - Kapilash Das
- BRIC - Institute of Life Sciences (BRIC-ILS), Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India
| | - Mamoni Dash
- BRIC - Institute of Life Sciences (BRIC-ILS), Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India
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Chen Y, Tang S, Cai F, Wan Y. Strategies for Small Extracellular Vesicle-Based Cancer Immunotherapy. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2024; 7:0421. [PMID: 39040921 PMCID: PMC11260559 DOI: 10.34133/research.0421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-enclosed vesicles released by cells. EVs encapsulate proteins and nucleic acids of their parental cell and efficiently deliver the cargo to recipient cells. These vesicles act as mediators of intercellular communication and thus play a crucial role in various physiological and pathological processes. Moreover, EVs hold promise for clinical use. They have been explored as drug delivery vehicles, therapeutic agents, and targets for disease diagnosis. In the landscape of cancer research, while strides have been made in EV-focused cancer physiopathology, liquid biopsy, and drug delivery, the exploration of EVs as immunotherapeutic agents may not have seen substantial progress to date. Despite promising findings reported in cell and animal studies, the clinical translation of EV-based cancer immunotherapeutics encounters challenges. Here, we review the existing strategies used in EV-based cancer immunotherapy, aiming to propel the development of this emerging yet crucial field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yundi Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine,
Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- The Pq Laboratory of BiomeDx/Rx, Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Shasha Tang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine,
Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengfeng Cai
- Department of Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine,
Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Wan
- The Pq Laboratory of BiomeDx/Rx, Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
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Liang H, Cui M, Tu J, Chen X. Advancements in osteosarcoma management: integrating immune microenvironment insights with immunotherapeutic strategies. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1394339. [PMID: 38915446 PMCID: PMC11194413 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1394339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma, a malignant bone tumor predominantly affecting children and adolescents, presents significant therapeutic challenges, particularly in metastatic or recurrent cases. Conventional surgical and chemotherapeutic approaches have achieved partial therapeutic efficacy; however, the prognosis for long-term survival remains bleak. Recent studies have highlighted the imperative for a comprehensive exploration of the osteosarcoma immune microenvironment, focusing on the integration of diverse immunotherapeutic strategies-including immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor microenvironment modulators, cytokine therapies, tumor antigen-specific interventions, cancer vaccines, cellular therapies, and antibody-based treatments-that are directly pertinent to modulating this intricate microenvironment. By targeting tumor cells, modulating the tumor microenvironment, and activating host immune responses, these innovative approaches have demonstrated substantial potential in enhancing the effectiveness of osteosarcoma treatments. Although most of these novel strategies are still in research or clinical trial phases, they have already demonstrated significant potential for individuals with osteosarcoma, suggesting the possibility of developing new, more personalized and effective treatment options. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current advancements in osteosarcoma immunotherapy, emphasizing the significance of integrating various immunotherapeutic methods to optimize therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, it underscores the imperative for subsequent research to further investigate the intricate interactions between the tumor microenvironment and the immune system, aiming to devise more effective treatment strategies. The present review comprehensively addresses the landscape of osteosarcoma immunotherapy, delineating crucial scientific concerns and clinical challenges, thereby outlining potential research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Liang
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Min Cui
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingyao Tu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinyi Chen
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Wang J, Ma X, Wu Z, Cui B, Zou C, Zhang P, Yao S. Microfluidics-Prepared Ultra-small Biomimetic Nanovesicles for Brain Tumor Targeting. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302302. [PMID: 38078359 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Blood-brain-barrier (BBB) serves as a fatal guard of the central nervous system as well as a formidable obstacle for the treatment of brain diseases such as brain tumors. Cell membrane-derived nanomedicines are promising drug carriers to achieve BBB-penetrating and brain lesion targeting. However, the challenge of precise size control of such nanomedicines has severely limited their therapeutic effect and clinical application in brain diseases. To address this problem, this work develops a microfluidic mixing platform that enables the fabrication of cell membrane-derived nanovesicles with precise controllability and tunability in particle size and component. Sub-100 nm macrophage plasma membrane-derived vesicles as small as 51 nm (nanoscale macrophage vesicles, NMVs), with a narrow size distribution (polydispersity index, PDI: 0.27) and a high drug loading rate (up to 89% for indocyanine green-loaded NMVs, NMVs@ICG (ICG is indocyanine green)), are achieved through a one-step process. Compared to beyond-100 nm macrophage cell membrane vesicles (general macrophage vesicles, GMVs) prepared via the traditional methods, the new NMVs exhibits rapid (within 1 h post-injection) and enhanced orthotopic glioma targeting (up to 78% enhancement), with no extra surface modification. This work demonstrates the great potential of such real-nanoscale cell membrane-derived nanomedicines in targeted brain tumor theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Xiaoxi Ma
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine, CAS-HK Joint Lab of Biomaterials, CAS Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging Science and System, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Nanoformulations, CAS Key Lab for Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen University Town, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhihao Wu
- Individualized Interdisciplinary Program, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Binbin Cui
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Changbin Zou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine, CAS-HK Joint Lab of Biomaterials, CAS Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging Science and System, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Nanoformulations, CAS Key Lab for Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen University Town, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine, CAS-HK Joint Lab of Biomaterials, CAS Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging Science and System, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Nanoformulations, CAS Key Lab for Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen University Town, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Shuhuai Yao
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, 999077, China
- HKUST Shenzhen-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation Research Institute, Futian, Shenzhen, 518048, China
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Lei Y, Cai S, Zhang CD, Li YS. The biological role of extracellular vesicles in gastric cancer metastasis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1323348. [PMID: 38333593 PMCID: PMC10850573 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1323348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a tumor characterized by high incidence and mortality, with metastasis being the primary cause of poor prognosis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are an important intercellular communication medium. They contain bioactive substances such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. EVs play a crucial biological role in the process of GC metastasis. Through mechanisms such as remodeling the tumor microenvironment (TME), immune suppression, promoting angiogenesis, and facilitating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesothelial-mesenchymal transition (MMT), EVs promote invasion and metastasis in GC. Further exploration of the biological roles of EVs will contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying GC metastasis and may provide novel targets and strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of GC. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms by which EVs influence GC metastasis from four aspects: remodeling the TME, modulating the immune system, influencing angiogenesis, and modulating the processes of EMT and MMT. Finally, we briefly summarized the organotropism of GC metastasis as well as the potential and limitations of EVs in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Lei
- Department of Surgical Oncology and 8th General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Shuang Cai
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Chun-Dong Zhang
- Department of Surgical Oncology and 8th General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yong-Shuang Li
- Department of Surgical Oncology and 8th General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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