Exosomes: Biogenesis, targeting, characterization and their potential as "Plug & Play" vaccine platforms. Issue 11 (5th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dyball, Laura E; Smales, C. Mark
• Is Part Of: Biotechnology journal. Volume 17:Issue 11(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-08-05
• Subjects: biogenesis -- bioprocessing -- exosomes -- extracellular vesicles -- surface display -- vaccine platform; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 660.605
• DOI: 10.1002/biot.202100646
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1860-6768

Abstract

Abstract: Exosomes are typically characterized as spherical extracellular vesicles less than 150 nm in diameter that have been released into the extracellular environment via fusion of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) to the plasma membrane. Exosomes play a key role in cell‐cell communication, vary widely in their composition and potential cargo, and are reportedly involved in processes as diverse as angiogenesis, apoptosis, antigen presentation, inflammation, receptor‐mediated endocytosis, cell proliferation, and differentiation, and cell‐signaling. Exosomes can also act as biomarkers of health and disease and have enormous potential use as therapeutic agents. Despite this, the understanding of how exosome biogenesis can be utilized to generate exosomes carrying specific targets for particular therapeutic uses, their manufacture, detailed analytical characterization, and methods of application are yet to be fully harnessed. In this review, the author describes the current understanding of these areas of exosome biology from a biotechnology and bioprocessing aspect, but also highlight the challenges that remain to be overcome to fully harness the power of exosomes as therapeutic agents, with a particular focus on their use and application as vaccine platforms. Graphical Abstract and Lay Summary: Exosomes are spherical structures less than 150 nm in diameter that are released from the plasma membrane of cells, carrying cargo within them. They play a key role in cell‐cell communication and are involved in modulating many cellular processes, can be biomarkers of health and disease, and have enormous potential use as therapeutic agents. In this review we describe the current understanding of exosome biology from a biotechnology and bioprocessing aspect, highlighting the challenges that remain to be overcome to fully harness the power of exosomes as therapeutic agents, with a particular focus on their potential use and application as vaccine platforms.