Microencapsulation technology by nature: Cell derived extracellular vesicles with therapeutic potential

Abstract

Cell derived extracellular vesicles are submicron structures surrounded by phospholipid bilayer and released by both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The sizes of these vesicles roughly fall into the size ranges of microbes, and they represent efficient delivery platforms targeting complex molecular information to professional antigen presenting cells. Critical roles of these naturally formulated units of information have been described in many physiological and pathological processes. Extracellular vesicles are not only potential biomarkers and possible pathogenic factors in numerous diseases, but they are also considered as emerging therapeutic targets and therapeutic vehicles. Strikingly, current drug delivery systems, designed to convey therapeutic proteins and peptides (such as liposomes), show many similarities to extracellular vesicles. Here we review some aspects of therapeutic implementation of natural, cell-derived extracellular vesicles in human diseases. Exploration of molecular and functional details of extracellular vesicle release and action may provide important lessons for the design of future drug delivery systems.

Extracellular vesicles induce protective immunity against Trichuris muris

“…This has also been reported for H. polygyrus EV vaccinations, although in these experiments, mice were vaccinated with 10 μg of material, boosted twice with 2 μg material, and all vaccinations were formulated with alum adjuvant, whereas the vaccinations performed here contained less material and were formulated without adjuvant. Effective EV vaccination without adjuvant has been shown for other pathogen systems highlighting the inherent immunogenicity of EVs containing protein antigens compared to proteins or peptides alone . While future work assessing the capacity of adjuvants on increasing protection levels of EV vaccination will be informative, the key observation here is that delivery of antigens in the form of EV alone induces protection.…”

“…Effective EV vaccination without adjuvant has been shown for other pathogen systems highlighting the inherent immunogenicity of EVs containing protein antigens compared to proteins or peptides alone. 32,33 While future work assessing the capacity of adjuvants on increasing protection levels of EV vaccination will be informative, the key observation here is that delivery of antigens in the form of EV alone induces protection. Indeed, the protective properties of T. muris EVs are dependent on intact vesicles, as vaccination with lysed EVs did not protect mice from a subsequent infection.…”

Vesicle-MaNiA: extracellular vesicles in liquid biopsy and cancer

“…Several studies support the use of EVs for delivery of molecular cargo and related signaling [80–82]. These ideas have expanded since the description of key molecules, such as integrins, determining the organ-targeted distribution of tumor-secreted exosomes [31].…”

Therapeutic Applications of Extracellular Vesicles: Clinical Promise and Open Questions

“…Early progress in harnessing EVs for therapeutic applications has engendered great interest; promising results and the rapidly unfolding picture of EV biogenesis have been extensively discussed elsewhere (1–5). In this review, we first contextualize the therapeutic potential of EVs within the broader emerging view of EVs as universal components of cellular biology and then provide an updated perspective on outstanding questions pertaining to the translation of EV-based therapies from preclinical demonstrations to viable clinical products.…”