Disease-microenvironment modulation by bare- or engineered-exosome for rheumatoid arthritis treatment
Eun Sook Lee, Hyewon Ko, Chan Ho Kim, Hyun-Chul Kim, Seong‐Kyoon Choi, Sang Won Jeong, Se-Guen Lee, Sungjun Lee, Hee‐Kyung Na, Jae Hyung Park, Jung Min Shin
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Exosomes are extracellular vesicles secreted by eukaryotic cells and have been extensively studied for their surface markers and internal cargo with unique functions. A deeper understanding of exosomes has allowed their application in various research areas, particularly in diagnostics and therapy. MAIN BODY: Exosomes have great potential as biomarkers and delivery vehicles for encapsulating therapeutic cargo. However, the limitations of bare exosomes, such as rapid phagocytic clearance and non-specific biodistribution after injection, pose significant challenges to their application as drug delivery systems. This review focuses on exosome-based drug delivery for treating rheumatoid arthritis, emphasizing pre/post-engineering approaches to overcome these challenges. CONCLUSION: This review will serve as an essential resource for future studies to develop novel exosome-based therapeutic approaches for rheumatoid arthritis. Overall, the review highlights the potential of exosomes as a promising therapeutic approach for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.