The use of extracellular vesicles (EV) in nano drug delivery has been demonstrated in many previous studies. In this study, we discuss the sources of extracellular vesicles, including plant, salivary and urinary sources which are easily available but less sought after compared with blood and tissue. Extensive research in the past decade has established that the breadth of EV applications is wide. However, the efforts on standardizing the isolation and purification methods have not brought us to a point that can match the potential of extracellular vesicles for clinical use. The standardization can open doors for many researchers and clinicians alike to experiment with the proposed clinical uses with lesser concerns regarding untraceable side effects. It can make it easier to identify the mechanism of therapeutic benefits and to track the mechanism of any unforeseen effects observed.
Extracellular
vesicles (EVs) and microbubbles are nanoparticles
in drug-delivery systems that are both considered important for clinical
translation. Current research has found that both microbubbles and
EVs have the potential to be utilized as drug-delivery agents for
therapeutic targets in various diseases. In combination with EVs,
microbubbles are capable of delivering chemotherapeutic drugs to tumor
sites and neighboring sites of damaged tissues. However, there are
no standards to evaluate or to compare the benefits of EVs (natural
carrier) versus microbubbles (synthetic carrier)
as drug carriers. Both drug carriers are being investigated for release
patterns and for pharmacokinetics; however, few researchers have focused
on their targeted delivery or efficacy. In this Perspective, we compare
EVs and microbubbles for a better understanding of their utility in
terms of delivering drugs to their site of action and future clinical
translation.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are naturally phospholipid enclosed nanovesicles released by many cells in the body. They are stable in circulation, have low immunogenicity, and act as carriers for functionally active biological molecules. They interact with target organs and bind to the receptors. Their target specificity is important to use EVs as noninvasive diagnostic and prognostic tools. EVs play a vital role in normal physiology and cellular communication. They are known to protect their cargo from degradation, which makes them important drug carriers for targeted drug delivery. Using EVs with markers and tracking their path in systemic circulation can be revolutionary in using them as diagnostic tools. We will discuss the scope of this in this paper. Although there are limitations in EVs isolation and storage, their high biocompatibility will fuel more innovations to overcome these challenges.
Exosomes are membrane‐bound vesicles that are released by most cells. They carry nucleic acids, cytokines, growth factors, proteins, lipids, and metabolites. They are responsible for inter‐ and intracellular communications and their role in drug delivery is well defined. Exosomes have great potential for therapeutic applications, but the clinical use is restricted because of limitations in standardized procedures for isolation, purification, and drug delivery. Bioengineering of exosomes could be one approach to achieve standardization and reproducible isolation for clinical use. Exosomes are important transporters for targeted drug delivery because of their small size, stable structure, non‐immunogenicity, and non‐toxic nature, as well as their ability to carry a wide variety of compounds. These features of exosomes can be enhanced further by bioengineering. In this review, possible exosome bioengineering approaches, their biomedical applications, and targeted drug delivery are discussed.
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