Engineered neutrophil-derived exosome-like vesicles for targeted cancer therapy

J Zhang, C Ji, H Zhang, H Shi, F Mao, H Qian, W Xu… - Science …, 2022 - science.org
J Zhang, C Ji, H Zhang, H Shi, F Mao, H Qian, W Xu, D Wang, J Pan, X Fang, HA Santos
Science advances, 2022science.org
Neutrophils are the most abundant innate immune cells in human circulation; however, their
derived exosomes have been rarely studied for tumor treatment. Here, we reported that
exosomes from neutrophils (N-Ex) induce tumor cell apoptosis by delivering cytotoxic
proteins and activating caspase signaling pathway. In addition, we decorated N-Ex with
superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to achieve higher tumor-targeting
therapeutic effect. We further fabricated exosome-like nanovesicles from neutrophils (NNVs) …
Neutrophils are the most abundant innate immune cells in human circulation; however, their derived exosomes have been rarely studied for tumor treatment. Here, we reported that exosomes from neutrophils (N-Ex) induce tumor cell apoptosis by delivering cytotoxic proteins and activating caspase signaling pathway. In addition, we decorated N-Ex with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to achieve higher tumor-targeting therapeutic effect. We further fabricated exosome-like nanovesicles from neutrophils (NNVs) at high yield. Compared with liposome-loaded doxorubicin (DOX) and natural NNVs, DOX-loaded NNVs show an improved inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. Moreover, DOX-loaded, SPION-decorated NNVs selectively accumulate at the tumor sites under an external magnetic field, effectively restraining tumor growth and extensively prolonging the survival rate in mice. Overall, a simple and effective method to engineer N-Ex and NNVs at clinical applicable scale was developed, which enables the efficient and safe drug delivery for targeted and combined tumor therapy.
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