Drug Delivery Systems Based on Extracellular Vesicles

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Biological Membrane Functions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 9723

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Division of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
Interests: extracellular vesicles; vaccine; cancer; mRNA; microRNAs; immune responses; T cells; dendritic cells; major histocompatibility complex (MHC); deep learning; virus
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, emerging evidence that extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, play a critical role as new drug delivery systems and biomarkers has attracted attention. Through intercellular communications, EVs can mediate cargo transport, such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, and particularly non-coding RNAs, leading to functional modulations of key molecules in both physiological and pathological conditions, such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, inflammation, regeneration, or immune tolerance.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest research on the role, purification, biogenesis, and structure of EVs in physiological or pathological areas. The topics that we intend to cover include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Intercellular communications by EVs and miRNAs;
  • Drug delivery systems through EVs;
  • Purification, biogenesis, and structure of EVs.

We welcome both research and review articles and look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Yasunari Matsuzaka
Prof. Dr. Yoshihiro Uesawa
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • extracellular vesicles(EVs)
  • microRNAs
  • intercellular communication
  • biomarkers
  • purification and biogenesis of EVs
  • inflammation or immune tolerance

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2519 KiB  
Article
Ameliorative Effects of Camel Milk and Its Exosomes on Diabetic Nephropathy in Rats
by Amira M. Shaban, Mai Raslan, Safa H. Qahl, Khaled Elsayed, Mohamed Sayed Abdelhameed, Atif Abdulwahab A. Oyouni, Osama M. Al-Amer, Ola Hammouda and Mohammed A. El-Magd
Membranes 2022, 12(11), 1060; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12111060 - 28 Oct 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2659
Abstract
Contradictory results were obtained regarding the effects of extracellular vesicles such as exosomes (EXOs) on diabetes and diabetic nephropathy (DN). Some studies showed that EXOs, including milk EXOs, were involved in the pathogenesis of DN, whereas other studies revealed ameliorative effects. Compared to [...] Read more.
Contradictory results were obtained regarding the effects of extracellular vesicles such as exosomes (EXOs) on diabetes and diabetic nephropathy (DN). Some studies showed that EXOs, including milk EXOs, were involved in the pathogenesis of DN, whereas other studies revealed ameliorative effects. Compared to other animals, camel milk had unique components that lower blood glucose levels. However, little is known regarding the effect of camel milk and its EXOs on DN. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate this effect on a rat model of DN induced by streptozotocin. Treatment with camel milk and/or its EXOs ameliorated DN as evidenced by (1) reduced levels of kidney function parameters (urea, creatinine, retinol-binding protein (RBP), and urinary proteins), (2) restored redox balance (decreased lipid peroxide malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased the activity of antioxidants enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), (3) downregulated expression of DN-related genes (transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGFβ1), intercellular adhesion molecules 1 (ICAM1), and transformation specific 1 (ETS1), integrin subunit beta 2 (ITGβ2), tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2), and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM1)), and (4) decreased renal damage histological score. These results concluded that the treatment with camel milk and/or its EXOs could ameliorate DN with a better effect for the combined therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drug Delivery Systems Based on Extracellular Vesicles)
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Review

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30 pages, 11423 KiB  
Review
Potential of Lipid-Based Nanocarriers against Two Major Barriers to Drug Delivery—Skin and Blood–Brain Barrier
by Mohammad Sameer Khan, Sradhanjali Mohapatra, Vaibhav Gupta, Ahsan Ali, Punnoth Poonkuzhi Naseef, Mohamed Saheer Kurunian, Abdulkhaliq Ali F. Alshadidi, Md Shamsher Alam, Mohd. Aamir Mirza and Zeenat Iqbal
Membranes 2023, 13(3), 343; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13030343 - 16 Mar 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3930
Abstract
Over the past few years, pharmaceutical and biomedical areas have made the most astounding accomplishments in the field of medicine, diagnostics and drug delivery. Nanotechnology-based tools have played a major role in this. The implementation of this multifaceted nanotechnology concept encourages the advancement [...] Read more.
Over the past few years, pharmaceutical and biomedical areas have made the most astounding accomplishments in the field of medicine, diagnostics and drug delivery. Nanotechnology-based tools have played a major role in this. The implementation of this multifaceted nanotechnology concept encourages the advancement of innovative strategies and materials for improving patient compliance. The plausible usage of nanotechnology in drug delivery prompts an extension of lipid-based nanocarriers with a special reference to barriers such as the skin and blood–brain barrier (BBB) that have been discussed in the given manuscript. The limited permeability of these two intriguing biological barriers restricts the penetration of active moieties through the skin and brain, resulting in futile outcomes in several related ailments. Lipid-based nanocarriers provide a possible solution to this problem by facilitating the penetration of drugs across these obstacles, which leads to improvements in their effectiveness. A special emphasis in this review is placed on the composition, mechanism of penetration and recent applications of these carriers. It also includes recent research and the latest findings in the form of patents and clinical trials in this field. The presented data demonstrate the capability of these carriers as potential drug delivery systems across the skin (referred to as topical, dermal and transdermal delivery) as well as to the brain, which can be exploited further for the development of safe and efficacious products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drug Delivery Systems Based on Extracellular Vesicles)
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21 pages, 1493 KiB  
Review
Advances in Purification, Modification, and Application of Extracellular Vesicles for Novel Clinical Treatments
by Yasunari Matsuzaka and Ryu Yashiro
Membranes 2022, 12(12), 1244; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12121244 - 8 Dec 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2455
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EV) are membrane vesicles surrounded by a lipid bilayer membrane and include microvesicles, apoptotic bodies, exosomes, and exomeres. Exosome-encapsulated microRNAs (miRNAs) released from cancer cells are involved in the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells via angiogenesis. On the other hand, [...] Read more.
Extracellular vesicles (EV) are membrane vesicles surrounded by a lipid bilayer membrane and include microvesicles, apoptotic bodies, exosomes, and exomeres. Exosome-encapsulated microRNAs (miRNAs) released from cancer cells are involved in the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells via angiogenesis. On the other hand, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy, which is being employed in regenerative medicine owing to the ability of MSCs to differentiate into various cells, is due to humoral factors, including messenger RNA (mRNA), miRNAs, proteins, and lipids, which are encapsulated in exosomes derived from transplanted cells. New treatments that advocate cell-free therapy using MSC-derived exosomes will significantly improve clinical practice. Therefore, using highly purified exosomes that perform their original functions is desirable. In this review, we summarized advances in the purification, modification, and application of EVs as novel strategies to treat some diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drug Delivery Systems Based on Extracellular Vesicles)
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