{"title":"Functionalized exosomes for targeted therapy in cancer and regenerative medicine: genetic, chemical, and physical modifications.","authors":"Salar Ghaffari Gabaran, Navid Ghasemzadeh, Maryam Rahnama, Erkan Karatas, Ali Akbari, Jafar Rezaie","doi":"10.1186/s12964-025-02268-y","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes, have been extensively discovered for their function in various diseases and potential therapeutic properties. In this review, we aimed to describe the therapeutic roles of functionalized exosomes in cancer and regenerative medicine.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this review study, we studied numerous articles over the past two decades published on the application of exosomes in different diseases, as well as on perspectives and challenges in this field.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Recent advancements have shown that exosomes can be used as a drug delivery system. However, this approach faces challenges such as low efficiency and non-targeting effects. Different methods, including genetic, chemical, and physical modifications, are used to functionalize exosome surfaces to address these limitations. In some cases, a combination of modification methods has been used to produce smart exosomes. Different therapeutic agents have been inserted on exosome surfaces by different modification methods. These functionalized exosomes can effectively deliver therapeutic agents to target cells. A growing body of evidence shows that functionalized exosomes are promising for cancer therapy and regenerative medicine. They can not only effectively deliver therapeutic agents to cancer cells, inhibiting tumorigenesis, but also efficiently contribute to tissue repair and regeneration by increasing cell proliferation and angiogenesis. In this review, we discuss different modification methods used to functionalize exosomes and related studies. In addition, we describe the application of functionalized exosomes in cancer and regeneration, along with challenges and perspectives.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although functionalized exosomes show promising results, further studies are essential for the clinical translation of these exosomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":55268,"journal":{"name":"Cell Communication and Signaling","volume":"23 1","pages":"265"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12135327/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Cell Communication and Signaling","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-025-02268-y","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CELL BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes, have been extensively discovered for their function in various diseases and potential therapeutic properties. In this review, we aimed to describe the therapeutic roles of functionalized exosomes in cancer and regenerative medicine.
Methods: In this review study, we studied numerous articles over the past two decades published on the application of exosomes in different diseases, as well as on perspectives and challenges in this field.
Results: Recent advancements have shown that exosomes can be used as a drug delivery system. However, this approach faces challenges such as low efficiency and non-targeting effects. Different methods, including genetic, chemical, and physical modifications, are used to functionalize exosome surfaces to address these limitations. In some cases, a combination of modification methods has been used to produce smart exosomes. Different therapeutic agents have been inserted on exosome surfaces by different modification methods. These functionalized exosomes can effectively deliver therapeutic agents to target cells. A growing body of evidence shows that functionalized exosomes are promising for cancer therapy and regenerative medicine. They can not only effectively deliver therapeutic agents to cancer cells, inhibiting tumorigenesis, but also efficiently contribute to tissue repair and regeneration by increasing cell proliferation and angiogenesis. In this review, we discuss different modification methods used to functionalize exosomes and related studies. In addition, we describe the application of functionalized exosomes in cancer and regeneration, along with challenges and perspectives.
Conclusions: Although functionalized exosomes show promising results, further studies are essential for the clinical translation of these exosomes.
期刊介绍：
Cell Communication and Signaling (CCS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal that focuses on cellular signaling pathways in both normal and pathological conditions. It publishes original research, reviews, and commentaries, welcoming studies that utilize molecular, morphological, biochemical, structural, and cell biology approaches. CCS also encourages interdisciplinary work and innovative models, including in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches, to facilitate investigations of cell signaling pathways, networks, and behavior.
Starting from January 2019, CCS is proud to announce its affiliation with the International Cell Death Society. The journal now encourages submissions covering all aspects of cell death, including apoptotic and non-apoptotic mechanisms, cell death in model systems, autophagy, clearance of dying cells, and the immunological and pathological consequences of dying cells in the tissue microenvironment.
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