Extracellular Vesicles as Natural Nanosized Delivery Systems for Small-Molecule Drugs and Genetic Material: Steps towards the Future Nanomedicines

Authors

  • Mustafa Kotmakçı Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5593-8608
  • Vildan Bozok Çetintaş Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18433/J36W3X

Abstract

A new platform for drug, gene and peptide-protein delivery is emerging, under the common name of “extracellular vesicles”. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are 30-1000 nm-sized cell-derived, liposome-like vesicles. Current research on EVs as nano-delivery systems for small-molecule drugs and genetic material, reveal that these tiny, biologically-derived vesicles carry a great potential to boost the efficacy of many therapeutic protocols. Several features of EVs; from efficacy to safety, from passive to active targeting ability, the opportunity to be biologically or chemically labelled, and most importantly, their eobiotic origin make them promising candidate for development of the next generation personalized nanomedicines. The aim of this article is to provide a view on the current research in which EVs are used as drug/genetic material delivery systems. Their application areas, drug loading and targeting strategies, and biodistribution properties are discussed.

This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see “For Readers”) may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue’s contents page.

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Author Biographies

Mustafa Kotmakçı, Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Vildan Bozok Çetintaş, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

Department of Medical Biology, Postdoctoral Research Assistant

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Published

2015-09-10

How to Cite

Kotmakçı, M., & Bozok Çetintaş, V. (2015). Extracellular Vesicles as Natural Nanosized Delivery Systems for Small-Molecule Drugs and Genetic Material: Steps towards the Future Nanomedicines. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18(3), 396–413. https://doi.org/10.18433/J36W3X

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Section

Review Articles