Harnessing Plant-derived Exosomes for Targeted Cancer Therapy: A Green Alternative in Drug Delivery | ||
| Regenerative Biomedicine | ||
| Volume 1, Issue 3, Summer 2025, Pages 172-193 PDF (876.92 K) | ||
| Document Type: Review Article | ||
| DOI: 10.22034/jrb.2025.525.1019 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Babak Arjmand* 1; Ali Reza Mojavezi2; Sana Badamchizadeh3; Rosa Kalami Yazdi2; Shayesteh Kokabi Hamidpour2; Hamid Reza Aghayan1 | ||
| 1Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | ||
| 2Iranian Cancer Control Center (MACSA), Tehran, Iran | ||
| 3Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Plant-derived exosomes (PDEs) are natural extracellular vesicles that have better biological compatibility, low immunogenicity, and the capability to carry a variety of therapeutic agents which makes them promising therapeutics for various diseases, especially cancer. Several methodologies have been developed for the isolation of PDEs, including ultracentrifugation, immunoaffinity, size-based isolation, and precipitation, each with its advantages and limitations, which must be optimized for large-scale production. Due to PDEs' higher biocompatibility, stability, and broader capacity for encapsulation of bioactive compounds, they have been considered a safer alternative for cancer treatment compared to other types of exosomes. More specifically, surface engineering, membrane fusion, and genetic transformation can be performed on PDEs to enhance the efficiency of drug delivery, specific targeting, and capability of overcoming drug resistance. However, optimization challenges persist in large-scale production, drug loading efficiency, and safety and stability of the nanostructures. In addition to the lack of uniform protocols for their characterization, the intrinsic heterogeneity of PDEs further limits their clinical applications. Some clinical trials are in progress, though regulatory frameworks regarding PDEs as therapeutic agents are still in the process of development. Therefore, for the full impact of PDEs in cancer therapy to be realized, there is a need to overcome the low yields, heterogeneity, and poor drug-loading efficiency challenges. However, employing some strategies can increase the efficacy of drug therapy through genetic engineering, chemical modifications, and the development of multifunctional nanoplatform, continued research is expected to proliferate PDEs into wider fields of medicine. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Drug delivery; Cancer therapy; Extracellular vesicles; PDEs; Theraputic Targets | ||
|
Statistics Article View: 524 PDF Download: 286 |
||