Engineered extracellular vesicles: A new approach for targeted therapy of tumors and overcoming drug resistance

Abstract

Targeted delivery of anti‐tumor drugs and overcoming drug resistance in malignant tumor cells remain significant clinical challenges. However, there are only few effective methods to address these issues. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), actively secreted by cells, play a crucial role in intercellular information transmission and cargo transportation. Recent studies have demonstrated that engineered EVs can serve as drug delivery carriers and showed promising application prospects. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need for further improvements in the isolation and purification of EVs, surface modification techniques, drug assembly processes, and precise recognition of tumor cells for targeted drug delivery purposes. In this review, we summarize the applications of engineered EVs in cancer treatment and overcoming drug resistance, and current challenges associated with engineered EVs are also discussed. This review aims to provide new insights and potential directions for utilizing engineered EVs as targeted delivery systems for anti‐tumor drugs and overcoming drug resistance in the near future.

Advances in the application of extracellular vesicles derived from three-dimensional culture of stem cells

“…One of the problems with EVs is the lack of standardized protocol for purification. Currently, there are many methods to isolate EVs, such as ultracentrifugation, immunoaffinity capture, size exclusion chromatography and others [ 185 ]. However, none of them is perfect and each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.…”

Therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles from diverse sources in cancer treatment

“…Two essential stages comprise the preparation of engineered EVs: firstly, the extraction of EVs from cell culture supernatants; and secondly, the modification of EVs via genetic engineering and chemical modification. To endow extracellular vesicles with particular functions, genetic engineering combines the gene sequences of pertinent surface membrane proteins with ligands or homing peptides, while chemical modification improves the stability and targeting of EVs by introducing specific molecules onto their surface [ 163 ].…”

“…These vesicles are proficient in encapsulating chemotherapeutic drugs and other bioactive molecules, facilitating targeted drug delivery and sustained release. This targeted approach enhances the therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity, thereby representing a significant advancement in cancer treatment paradigms [ 163 ]. Furthermore, engineered EVs can be synergistically combined with other treatment methods, such as photothermal therapy.…”