Photo-chemo combination therapy has been intensively investigated for the enhancement of anticancer activity of chemotherapeutic drugs. Photothermal therapy (PTT) in which absorbed light is converted into cytotoxic heat has been employed for noninvasive cancer treatment. Near-infrared (NIR) light (700–900 nm) is well suited for PTT because it has minimal tissue absorption and easily penetrates deep tissues. Exosomes, nanosized extracellular vesicles secreted by cells, have emerged as versatile biocompatible nanocarriers for drug delivery. In this study, surface-functionalized exosomes that can co-encapsulate photothermal agents (indocyanine green, ICG) and chemodrugs (paclitaxel, PTX) were developed and utilized for combined chemo-photothermal therapy. The ICG and PTX-loaded exosomes (ExoICG/PTX) showed high colloidal stability in physiological conditions. ExoICG/PTX was efficiently internalized by MCF-7 breast cancer cells and produced heat under NIR irradiation. From in vitro and in vivo study, it was found that ExoICG/PTX exhibited synergistic anticancer activity in breast cancer cells due to chemo-photothermal combination therapy. This study demonstrates that surface-functionalized exosomes are promising nanocarriers for biocompatible and efficient drug delivery.<br/>

Surface-functionalized exosomes for chemo-photothermal combination therapy

2019 Fall National Meeting

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