On the Feasibility of SERS-Based Monitoring of Drug Loading Efficiency in Exosomes for Targeted Delivery.
Publication Year:
2025
PubMed ID:
40136938
Funding Grants:
Public Summary:
Cancer needs improved drug delivery systems. Exosomes are natural drug carriers that can target more efficiently and with less toxicity. This study introduces a monitoring system to load the drugs into exosomes and quantify the precise amount.
Scientific Abstract:
Cancer, a significant cause of mortality, necessitates improved drug delivery strategies. Exosomes, as natural drug carriers, offer a more efficient, targeted, and less toxic drug delivery system compared to direct dispersal methods via ingestion or injection. To be successfully implemented as drug carriers, efficient loading of drugs into exosomes is crucial, and a deeper understanding of the loading mechanism remains to be solved. This study introduces surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to monitor drug loading efficacy at the single vesicle level. By enhancing the Raman signal, SERS overcomes limitations in Raman spectroscopy. A gold nanopyramids array-based SERS substrate assesses exosome heterogeneity in drug-loading capabilities with the help of single-layer graphene for precise quantification. This research advances targeted drug delivery by presenting a more efficient method of evaluating drug-loading efficiency into individual exosomes through SERS-based monitoring. Furthermore, the study explores leveraging osmotic pressure variations, enhancing the efficiency of drug loading into exosomes.
