title: Exosomes as therapeutics: The implications of molecular composition and exosomal heterogeneity.
abstract: Harnessing exosomes as therapeutic drug delivery vehicles requires a better understanding of exosomal composition and their mode of action. A full appreciation of all the exosomal components (proteins, lipids, and RNA content) will be important for the design of effective exosome-based or exosome-mimicking drug carriers. In this review we describe the presence of rarely studied, non-coding RNAs that exist in high numbers in exosomes. We discuss the implications of the molecular composition and heterogeneity of exosomes on their biological and therapeutic effects. Finally, we highlight outstanding questions with regard to RNA loading into exosomes, analytical methods to sort exosomes and their sub-populations, and the effects of exosomal proteins and lipids on recipient cells. Investigations into these facets of exosome biology will further advance the field, could lead to the clinical translation of exosome-based therapeutics, and aid in the reverse-engineering of synthetic exosomes. Although synthetic exosomes are still an underexplored area, they could offer researchers a way to manufacture exosomes with highly defined structure, composition, and function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The State University of New York at Buffalo, United States.
authors.forename: Scott W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The State University of New York at Buffalo, United States. Electronic address: julianen@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D055354:Exosomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D012313:RNA
keywords: Exosomes; Heterogeneity; Lipids; Non-coding RNAs; Proteins