Ginger-Derived Exosome-Like Nanoparticles Loaded With Indocyanine Green Enhances Phototherapy Efficacy for Breast Cancer

Plant-based exosome-like extracellular vesicles as encapsulation vehicles for enhanced bioavailability and breast cancer therapy: recent advances and challenges

Breast cancer remains a common and challenging disease globally among women, prompting the need for innovative and effective therapeutic approaches. Plant-based exosomes (PBEXOs) offer a promising avenue for breast cancer treatment. Derived from plant sources, these EXOs exhibit unique properties, including biocompatibility, non-immunogenicity, and inherent bioactive compounds that make them suitable for medical applications. PBEXOs have shown potential in targeting cancer cells due to their ability to transport therapeutic substances directly to tumor sites, enhancing medication effectiveness and reducing systemic adverse effects. Their natural composition allows for modifications that improve stability, targeting capabilities, and drug-loading efficiency. The advanced isolation ensures the retention of their functional properties, which is crucial for their therapeutic applications. Characterization of these EXOs further supports their potential use in oncology. In preclinical studies, PBEXOs have been successfully loaded with various chemotherapeutic drugs, demonstrating significant anti-cancer activity. Recent studies highlight the progression of PBEXOs from experimental models to potential clinical applications, with some formulations receiving regulatory attention. However, challenges such as scalability, regulatory compliance, and a comprehensive understanding of their mechanisms remain. Addressing these issues could pave the way for PBEXOs to become a standard component in the arsenal against breast cancer, offering hope for more effective and targeted therapies.

A multifaceted microenvironment nanoregulator for targeted ovarian cancer therapy

The treatment of ovarian cancer is hindered by its insidious onset and rapid progression. Exosomes (EXOs) present a promising therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer by modulating the tumor microenvironment. However, concerns regarding the biosafety of animal-derived EXOs pose significant challenges to the development of innovative formulations. In this study, we propose a universal strategy to engineer plant-derived EXOs as microenvironment nanoregulators for targeted ovarian cancer therapy. EXOs derived from ginger were purified, loaded with the natural bioactive compound curcumin (Cur) with high encapsulation efficiency, and functionalized with a tumor-targeting aptamer. Upon intravenous administration, the resulting multifaceted microenvironment nanoregulator, termed AGE@Cur, effectively accumulates at the tumor site and exerts a tumor-suppressive effect through remodeling the tumor microenvironment. This novel therapeutic platform not only addresses the limitations of animal-derived EXOs but also paves the way for the development of innovative microenvironment regulators in clinical applications.