Engineered exosomes as a natural nanoplatform for cancer targeted delivery of metal-based drugs

Over the last decades increasing attention has been devoted towards the application of metal-based drugs to treat various diseases. These compounds have found in particular interest in the diagnosis or treatment of cancer. Despite the impressive clinical success of several of such compounds, the majority of metal complexes or metal containing nanoparticles are associated with severe side effects or pharmacokinetic limitations. To overcome these drawbacks, research efforts have been devoted towards the development of suitable drug delivery systems. Among these, some attention has been focused on exosomes as a natural nanoplatform. Exosomes are nanocarriers which are involved in the transportation of various biomolecules. Capitalizing on this biological functionality, exosomes present an ideal candidate as a drug delivery system. Herein, the experimental methods for the isolation and loading of exosomes with metal-based drugs as well as their application for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer are critically discussed.