Extracellular vesicles containing fullerene derivatives prepared by an exchange reaction for photodynamic therapy

J Mater Chem B. 2024 Oct 2;12(38):9760-9766. doi: 10.1039/d4tb00416g.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have excellent biocompatibility and long retention times in the circulation and have consequently been expected to be useful as drug-delivery systems. However, their applications have been limited because of the inability to introduce hydrophobic compounds to EVs without the use of harmful organic solvents. Herein, we developed an organic-solvent-free drug-loading technique based on the host exchange reaction. We demonstrated that the exchange reaction enabled quantitative loading of EVs with highly concentrated (0.1 mM) hydrophobic fullerene derivatives. Fullerene derivative-loaded EVs (EVs/C60) could eliminate cancer cell lines more efficiently than fullerene derivative-loaded liposomes (Lip/C60). Moreover, the photodynamic activity of EVs/C60 was fivefold higher than that of the clinically available photosensitizer photofrin. EVs/C60 could efficiently suppress tumor growth in tumor-xenograft model mice.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Extracellular Vesicles* / chemistry
  • Female
  • Fullerenes* / chemistry
  • Fullerenes* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Particle Size
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • Photosensitizing Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Photosensitizing Agents* / chemistry
  • Photosensitizing Agents* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Fullerenes
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents