Hyaluronic acid-modified extracellular vesicles for targeted doxorubicin delivery in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a prevalent and deadly cancer, poses a significant challenge with current treatments due to limitations such as poor stability, off-target effects, and severe side effects. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), derived from tumor cells, have the remarkable ability to home back to their cells of origin and can serve as Trojan horses for drug delivery. CD44, a cell surface glycoprotein, promotes cancer stem cell-like properties and is linked to poor prognosis and resistance to chemotherapy in HCC. Therefore, targeting CD44-expressing HCC cells is of interest in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of HCC. In this study, we developed tumor cell-derived EVs (TEVs) functionalized with hyaluronic acid (HA) to serve as natural carriers for the precise delivery of doxorubicin (Dox), which specifically targets HCC cells expressing CD44. Our results demonstrated that HA-engineered EVs (HA-EVs) significantly enhanced Dox accumulation within HCC cells. In a mouse model, HA-EVs effectively delivered Dox to tumors, suppressing their growth and progression while minimizing systemic toxicity. This study demonstrates the potential of HA-functionalized EVs as a novel and targeted therapeutic platform for HCC, offering a valuable strategy for improving drug delivery and patient outcomes. This study presents a promising strategy to advance targeted chemotherapy for HCC and address the challenges associated with conventional treatments. Engineered HA-functionalized EVs offer a tailored and efficient approach to increase drug delivery precision, underscoring their potential as a novel therapeutic platform in the realm of HCC treatment.