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Review
. 2019 Mar 27;3(1):011503.
doi: 10.1063/1.5087122. eCollection 2019 Mar.

Challenges and opportunities in exosome research-Perspectives from biology, engineering, and cancer therapy

Xia Li  1 , Alexander L Corbett  1 , Erfan Taatizadeh, Nishat Tasnim  2 , Jonathan P Little  3 , Cathie Garnis  4 , Mads Daugaard  5 , Emma Guns  5 , Mina Hoorfar  2 , Isaac T S Li  1
Affiliations
Review

Challenges and opportunities in exosome research-Perspectives from biology, engineering, and cancer therapy

Xia Li et al. APL Bioeng. .

Abstract

Exosomes are small (∼30-140 nm) lipid bilayer-enclosed particles of endosomal origin. They are a subset of extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are secreted by most cell types. There has been growing interest in exosome research in the last decade due to their emerging role as intercellular messengers and their potential in disease diagnosis. Indeed, exosomes contain proteins, lipids, and RNAs that are specific to their cell origin and could deliver cargo to both nearby and distant cells. As a result, investigation of exosome cargo contents could offer opportunities for disease detection and treatment. Moreover, exosomes have been explored as natural drug delivery vehicles since they can travel safely in extracellular fluids and deliver cargo to destined cells with high specificity and efficiency. Despite significant efforts made in this relatively new field of research, progress has been held back by challenges such as inefficient separation methods, difficulties in characterization, and lack of specific biomarkers. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge in exosome biogenesis, their roles in disease progression, and therapeutic applications and opportunities in bioengineering. Furthermore, we highlight the established and emerging technological developments in exosome isolation and characterization. We aim to consider critical challenges in exosome research and provide directions for future studies.

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Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
(a) Schematic representation of the major components of the endosomal pathway and the generation of exosomes. Components of the biogenic pathway may be redirected for degradation in the lysosome. (b) The contents of exosomes may serve as biomarkers for disease—some of the known ones, along with the standard exosomal biomarkers are categorised here. In addition to proteins, exosomes also contain many species of nucleic acids. The ESCRT machinery is not internalised.
FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.
Schematic illustration of exosome's roles in cancer development and therapeutic application. Exosomes can facilitate tumor progression, establishment of pre-metastatic niche, and spreading to the secondary site (Sec. III). Exosome-based cancer therapy can be done by limiting exosome production/uptake (Sec. IV A) or utilizing exosomes as native gene/drug carriers (Sec. IV B).
FIG. 3.
FIG. 3.
Schematic view and comparison of conventional (a)–(e) and microfluidic based (f)–(j) isolation methods commonly used to extract exosomes from biological fluids.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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