Membrane Vesicles (Extracellular Vesicles)

The intercellular communication of mammalian cells is facilitated by the secretion of small, lipid-bilayer enclosed membranous structures, known as extracellular vesicles (EVs). Owing to their ability to effectively transport a heterogeneous range of bioactive molecules, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, to target cells, EVs have emerged as a cutting-edge drug delivery platform for the next generation of therapeutics. The capacity of EVs to surpass conventional drug delivery systems is attributed to their greater stability, reduced immunogenicity, and ability to overcome biological barriers. Moreover, EVs can be engineered to possess tailored cell-targeting features and tissue-specific tropism, a quality that renders them an attractive option for precision medicine applications. Although the scalability and standardization of EV production remain significant hurdles to surmount, the potential of EVs as a drug delivery platform is rapidly gaining momentum in the scientific community.

Fig.1 EVs can be grouped on the basis of the origin of their constituents into native EVs, EVs originating from (genetically) engineered cells, post-modified EVs or EV-inspired liposomes. (Herrmann, 2021)

Applications of Drug Delivery with EVs

Drug delivery using EVs has promising applications in various of medicine.

• Cancer therapy. EVs can transport therapeutic agents to cancer cells specifically and reduce the risk of off-target effects.
• Treating genetic diseases, infectious diseases. EVs can transport RNA-based therapeutic, including siRNA and miRNA, to target cells.
• Treating neurodegenerative disorders. EVs can deliver small-molecule drugs and peptides, and they have demonstrated effectiveness in treating neurodegenerative disorders.
• EVs have the potential to deliver vaccines, as they can target and activate immune cells specifically.

Advantages of Drug Delivery with EVs

Compared to conventional drug delivery methods, EV-based drug delivery has a number of benefits.

• First of all, EVs do not trigger an immune reaction or cause toxicity. They are also biocompatible and biodegradable.
• Second, EVs can be designed to transport a variety of therapeutic payloads, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecule drugs.
• Third, EVs have the ability to bypass biological barriers like the blood-brain barrier and can be directed to specific cells or tissues.
• In addition, EV-based drug delivery has the potential to improve the bioavailability and effectiveness of therapeutic molecules while lowering toxicity and side effects.
• Additionally, EVs can lengthen the stability and half-life of therapeutic molecules and shield them from immune system clearance or degradation.

Creative Biolabs' Customized EVs for Drug Delivery

At Creative Biolabs, we offer a wide range of EV-based drug delivery customized products, including:

• EV isolation, purification, and characterization
• EV engineering and functionalization
• Targeted EV delivery
• EV-based drug screening and optimization
• Quality control and characterization
• Regulatory guidance and support

We provide a profuse assortment of EV engineering and functionalization products, comprising but not restricted to the skillful engineering of EVs for the specific carriage of therapeutic payloads, the targeting of EVs to particular cells or tissues, and the adept modification of EV surfaces to enhance stability and biocompatibility. In addition, our services encompass exhaustive quality control and characterization evaluations, which serve to guarantee the safety, effectiveness, and reproducibility of EV-based drug delivery systems.

Fig.2 Process steps and key unit operations in the production process of drug-loaded EVs. (Herrmann, 2021)

References

1. Herrmann, I.K.; et al. Extracellular vesicles as a next-generation drug delivery platform. Nature nanotechnology. 2021, 16(7): 748-759.
2. de Jong, O.G.; et al. Drug delivery with extracellular vesicles: from imagination to innovation. Accounts of chemical research. 2019, 52(7): 1761-1770.