Exosome‐Encapsulated Persistent Luminescence Nanoparticles Enabled Medicinal Product‐Based Drug Delivery System

Abstract

IntroductionRecent studies have found that exosome or extracellular vesicles (EVs) are associated with cancer metastasis, disease progression, diagnosis and treatment, making cell research a hot emerging research area. Instead, cells would send them out via exocytosis. This has also been observed for other rigid nanoparticles such as silica and carbon. Relying on the superior targeting function and biocompatibility of cancer exosomes, they were able to deliver the drug to cancer stem cells deep inside the tumor in mouse models.ChallengeDespite significant efforts made in this relatively new field of exosome research, progress has been held back by challenges such as inefficient separation methods, difficulties in characterization, and lack of specific biomarkers. Moreover, the applications of exosome still need more evaluation for the true condition.ActionPersistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNs) result in their powerful in vivo near‐infrared fluorescence, thus generating remarkable tumors imaging tracking ability in subcutaneous, orthotopic and metastatic tumors. Our study provides an approach for cancer therapy by using exosome‐biomimetic nanoparticles named PLN@tExo exocytosed by the Transwell channel electroporation (TEP) process. The PLN@tExo can be applied for drug carriers to efficiently deliver the anticancer drug into the center of cancer cells.ResolutionThe biocompatible exosome‐sheathed PLNs (Dox‐PLN@tExo) have been synthesized for targeted cancer chemotherapy. Dox‐PLN@tExos are exocytosed from cells after the TEP process. Following intravenous injection, Dox‐PLN@tExos actively accumulate in the tumor site and cross‐reactive cellular uptake by cancer cells, resulting in augmented in vivo DOX enrichment in tumor cells. Our study clearly demonstrates that exosome‐biomimetic nanoparticles have potential as drug carriers to improve anticancer efficacy.Support or Funding InformationThis research was supported by Academia Sinica [AS‐SUMMIT‐108] to MH and Academia Sinica Joint Program Office [AS‐NTU‐108‐01] to MH.The scheme figure shows the exocytotic pathway can generate therapeutic exosome and encapsulate the nanoparticles as a targeting anticancer nanovehicle.Figure 1The confocal image shows the NEP process actively sends the nanoparticles into the cytosol. Moreover, the transport effect is better than incubated‐nanoparticle directly.Figure 2