Exosomes are intracellular membrane-based vesicles with diverse compositions that are involved in biological and pathological processes. Since the discovery of exosomes, they have been used as diagnostic biomarkers and as potential drug delivery vehicles based on their size and competence to transfer biological materials to recipient cells. The properties of exosomes such as biocompatibility, preferred tumor homing, adjustable targeting efficiency, and stability make them striking and excellent drug delivery vehicles for use in various diseases and cancer therapy. In this article, we provide a brief overview of the biogenesis, functions, and contents of exosomes along with the separation and characterization techniques. Our major focus is on the recent progress made in application of exosomes as drug delivery systems involving delivery of small molecules, macromolecules, and nucleotides. Further, we discuss the challenges faced when using exosomes as a drug delivery vehicle.

1. Presented By
Naveen Patidar
M.Pharm (I.P.) 1st sem
08011PY23MP08
EXOSOME DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS:
REVOLUTIONIZING DRUG DELIVERY
Guided By
Mr. Prakash Soni
Associate Professor
Dept. of Pharmacy SGSITS Indore
1

2. CONTENT
Introduction to exosome
Biogenesis of exosome
Structure of exosome
Properties of exosomes
Types of exosomes
Isolation techniques
Loading of drug
Storage stability and limitation
Summary
Conclusion
References
2

3. 1. INTRODUCTION
 Exosomes are extracellular membrane bound
cell-secreted nanoparticles /vesicles
 size - 30–150 nm in diameter
 Natural nanocarriers derived from cell
containing protein, lipid, RNA, DNA ,
Glycoprotein
 Cell to cell communication
 Used as cargo drug delivery
3

4. 2. BIOGENESIS OF EXOSOMES
MVB- MULTIVESICULAR BODIES
ILV- INTRA LUMINAL VESSICLE
ESCRT-ENDOSOMAL SORTING COMPLEX
REQUIRED FOR TRANSPORT
(MVB)
4

5. ➤ Classification of extracellular vesicles
according to the mechanism of generation.
Exosomes are generated intracellularly from
multivesicular bodies.
Microvesicles(100–1000 nm)are produced by
budding from the extracellular membrane.
Apoptotic vesicles(100–1000 nm) are released
upon cell fragmentation during apoptotic cell death.
FIG.SOURCE-; Pradip B. Devhare and Ratna B. Ray Mol Aspects Med. 2018 Apr; 60: PAGE 115 5

6. 3. STRUCTURE
Exosomes loaded with
 Proteins, e.g., heat shock
proteins, Ras-related protein
 CD9, CD63, and CD81.
 mRNA, miRNA, and non-
coding RNA
 Nutrients
 Bioactive compounds
 Structural lipids include
ceramide, sphingolipids, and
phospholipid
 exosome membrane proteins
include MHC-II, cluster of
differentiation, and integrin.
(source:ront. Sustain. Food Syst., Volume 3 – 6

7. 4. PROPERTIES
Long body circulations
Compartmentalization
Targeted delivery
Biocompatibility & safe
Cargo protection & encapsulation
Biodegradable
High penetration
Enhanced biodistribution
7

8. DIAGNOSTICS
ARTHRITIS
PATHOLOGICAL
CONDITIONS
CANCER
AS TARGETED DRUG
DELIEVRY
INTERCELLULAR
COMMUNICATION
BIOMARKER
NEURODEGENRATIVE
DISEASE
IMMUNOTHERAPY
BRAIN INFLAMMATORY
DISEASE
8

9. 5. TYPES OF EXOSOME
ENDOSOME-DERIVED
PLASMA MEMBRANE-DERIVED
TUMOR CELL DERIVED
NEURONAL CELL-DERIVED
BLOOD CELL DERIVED
MACROPHAGE DERIVED
9

10. 6. ISOLATION TECHNIQUE
A. ULTRACENTRIFUGATION
B. DENSITY GRADIENT
CENTRIFUGATION
C. DEAD END FILTRATION
D. TANGENTIAL FLOW FILTRATION
E. SIZE-EXCLUSION
CHROMATOGRAPHY
F. IMMUNOAFFINITY
image source Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 9:811971. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.811971
CD9, CD63, CD81
10

11. 7. LOADING OF EXOSOME
• Sonication
• Electroporation
• Freeze -Thaw
• Extrusion
PHYSICAL METHOD
• Saponin-assisted permeation
• Transfection
• Covalent bonding
CHEMICAL METHOD
• Incubation
• Viral transduction
BIOLOGICAL METHOD
Source;Exosome engineering in cell therapy and drug delivery. Inflammopharmacol 31, 145–169 (2023
11

12. 8. STORAGE STABLITY &
LIMITATIONS
They cannot be stored for a long time.
It is necessary to study exosomes preservation
technology to protect their biological activities and
make them convenient for transportation and
clinical application. Currently, the applied protection
techniques mainly include
Cryopreservation
Freeze-drying (lyophilization)
Spray-drying
12

13. 9. SUMMARY
Exosomes, natural carriers, offer targeted delivery
potential for efficient and less toxic therapy.
Diverse loading strategies establish exosomes as
versatile carriers for various therapeutic molecules.
Challenges include large-scale production, quality
control, and potential side effects.
Engineering exosomes with recognition proteins
enhances targeted delivery and circulation time.
Exosome source selection is crucial, considering
different features and compositions.
Concerns about tumor cell-derived exosomes inducing
tumor growth must be addressed.
13

14. 10. CONCLUSION
 Exosomes, with their hybrid systems, are considered
alternative drug carriers for chemotherapy, gene therapy, and
photothermal therapy.
 Hybrid exosomes show synergistic theragnosis effects but
come with challenges like high synthesis cost.
 Mass production and improved drug loading efficiency are
critical for commercialization and widespread therapeutic use.
 Exosomes and their hybrids offer advantages such as high
targeting, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility.
 Overall, exosomes present promising potential in DDS for the
treatment of various diseases, contributing to public health.
14

15. 11. REFERENCES
1) Chen H, Wang L, Zeng X, Schwarz H, Nanda HS, Peng X and
Zhou Y (2021) Exosomes, a New Star for Targeted Delivery.
Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 9:751079. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.751079
2) ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering 2023 9 (2), 577-594
DOI:10.1021/acsbiomaterials.
3) Nature Nanotechnology | VOL 16 | July 2021 | 748–759 |
www.nature.com/naturenanotechnology
4) Heon Lee,a Kushal Chakraborty,b Joon Hwangac and Yong-
Kyu Lee RSC Adv., 2022, 12, 18475–18492 | DOI:
10.1039/d2ra02351
15

16. THANK YOU
16