Turning adversity into opportunity: Small extracellular vesicles as nanocarriers for tumor‐associated macrophages re‐education

Abstract Currently, small extracellular vesicles (sEV) as a nanoscale drug delivery system, are undergoing biotechnological scaling and clinical validation. Nonetheless, preclinical pharmacokinetic studies revealed that sEV are predominantly uptaken by macrophages. Although this “sEV‐macrophage” pro...

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Main Authors: Dario Donoso‐Meneses, Aliosha I. Figueroa‐Valdés, Nicolás Georges, Hugo E. Tobar, Francisca Alcayaga‐Miranda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-01-01
Series:Bioengineering & Translational Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/btm2.10349
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author Dario Donoso‐Meneses
Aliosha I. Figueroa‐Valdés
Nicolás Georges
Hugo E. Tobar
Francisca Alcayaga‐Miranda
author_facet Dario Donoso‐Meneses
Aliosha I. Figueroa‐Valdés
Nicolás Georges
Hugo E. Tobar
Francisca Alcayaga‐Miranda
author_sort Dario Donoso‐Meneses
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Currently, small extracellular vesicles (sEV) as a nanoscale drug delivery system, are undergoing biotechnological scaling and clinical validation. Nonetheless, preclinical pharmacokinetic studies revealed that sEV are predominantly uptaken by macrophages. Although this “sEV‐macrophage” propensity represents a disadvantage in terms of sEV targeting and their bioavailability as nanocarriers, it also represents a strategic advantage for those therapies that involve macrophages. Such is the case of tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs), which can reprogram/repolarize their predominantly immunosuppressive and tumor‐supportive phenotype toward an immunostimulatory and anti‐tumor phenotype using sEV as nanocarriers of TAMs reprogramming molecules. In this design, sEV represents an advantageous delivery system, providing precision to the therapy by simultaneously matching their tropism to the therapeutic cell target. Here, we review the current knowledge of the role of TAMs in the tumoral microenvironment and the effect generated by the reprogramming of these phagocytic cells fate using sEV. Finally, we discuss how these vesicles can be engineered by different bioengineering techniques to improve their therapeutic cargo loading and preferential uptake by TAMs.
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spelling doaj-art-c9aea6a07a714690a7058ad6fb1b07892024-11-21T05:16:02ZengWileyBioengineering & Translational Medicine2380-67612023-01-0181n/an/a10.1002/btm2.10349Turning adversity into opportunity: Small extracellular vesicles as nanocarriers for tumor‐associated macrophages re‐educationDario Donoso‐Meneses0Aliosha I. Figueroa‐Valdés1Nicolás Georges2Hugo E. Tobar3Francisca Alcayaga‐Miranda4Laboratory of Nano‐Regenerative Medicine, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CIIB), Faculty of Medicine Universidad de Los Andes Santiago ChileLaboratory of Nano‐Regenerative Medicine, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CIIB), Faculty of Medicine Universidad de Los Andes Santiago ChileLaboratory of Nano‐Regenerative Medicine, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CIIB), Faculty of Medicine Universidad de Los Andes Santiago ChileLaboratory of Nano‐Regenerative Medicine, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CIIB), Faculty of Medicine Universidad de Los Andes Santiago ChileLaboratory of Nano‐Regenerative Medicine, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CIIB), Faculty of Medicine Universidad de Los Andes Santiago ChileAbstract Currently, small extracellular vesicles (sEV) as a nanoscale drug delivery system, are undergoing biotechnological scaling and clinical validation. Nonetheless, preclinical pharmacokinetic studies revealed that sEV are predominantly uptaken by macrophages. Although this “sEV‐macrophage” propensity represents a disadvantage in terms of sEV targeting and their bioavailability as nanocarriers, it also represents a strategic advantage for those therapies that involve macrophages. Such is the case of tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs), which can reprogram/repolarize their predominantly immunosuppressive and tumor‐supportive phenotype toward an immunostimulatory and anti‐tumor phenotype using sEV as nanocarriers of TAMs reprogramming molecules. In this design, sEV represents an advantageous delivery system, providing precision to the therapy by simultaneously matching their tropism to the therapeutic cell target. Here, we review the current knowledge of the role of TAMs in the tumoral microenvironment and the effect generated by the reprogramming of these phagocytic cells fate using sEV. Finally, we discuss how these vesicles can be engineered by different bioengineering techniques to improve their therapeutic cargo loading and preferential uptake by TAMs.https://doi.org/10.1002/btm2.10349cancerimmunotherapymacrophagesnanocarrier engineeringsmall extracellular vesiclesTAMs re‐education
spellingShingle Dario Donoso‐Meneses
Aliosha I. Figueroa‐Valdés
Nicolás Georges
Hugo E. Tobar
Francisca Alcayaga‐Miranda
Turning adversity into opportunity: Small extracellular vesicles as nanocarriers for tumor‐associated macrophages re‐education
Bioengineering & Translational Medicine
cancer
immunotherapy
macrophages
nanocarrier engineering
small extracellular vesicles
TAMs re‐education
title Turning adversity into opportunity: Small extracellular vesicles as nanocarriers for tumor‐associated macrophages re‐education
title_full Turning adversity into opportunity: Small extracellular vesicles as nanocarriers for tumor‐associated macrophages re‐education
title_fullStr Turning adversity into opportunity: Small extracellular vesicles as nanocarriers for tumor‐associated macrophages re‐education
title_full_unstemmed Turning adversity into opportunity: Small extracellular vesicles as nanocarriers for tumor‐associated macrophages re‐education
title_short Turning adversity into opportunity: Small extracellular vesicles as nanocarriers for tumor‐associated macrophages re‐education
title_sort turning adversity into opportunity small extracellular vesicles as nanocarriers for tumor associated macrophages re education
topic cancer
immunotherapy
macrophages
nanocarrier engineering
small extracellular vesicles
TAMs re‐education
url https://doi.org/10.1002/btm2.10349
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