Exosome Production, Isolation and Characterization from A549 Epithelial Carcinoma Cells

Abstract

Exosomes are natural nanoparticles that special features have been started to be used for recent years in the treatment of cancer as a natural, homogeneous, nanosized, targeted vesicles (~ 50- 100 nm). They have high avidity (many conformational attachment) to attach onto targeted cancer cell surfaces. They are composed of bioactive double-layered lipid layers in which their original nature has the adhesive proteins interacting with the cancer cell membrane easily. In this study, the exosomes of non-small cell lung cancer A549 epithelial carcinoma cells were investigated for their potential to be the natural or synthetic drug carrier. Firstly, exosomes of A549 cell line were produced in exosome-free media. Immediately after, isolation of their exosomes were realized by using ultracentrifugation procedure. SEM image, particle size, zeta potential, exosomal RNA analysis and Protein Content by Bradford assays were performed. Findings (Size: 168 nm; zeta: -16mV) on the properties of A549 cell exosomes proved their potential to be used as the drug carrier for cancer cell therapy.