Milk exosomes as delivery agents for therapy of cancer diseases
Exosomes are natural nanovesicles with a diameter of 40-100 nm, which are actively involved in the transfer of biologically active substances and participate in intercellular communication. The natural origin of exosomes determines its biological compatibility with cell cultures and makes them promising delivery vehicles for anticancer drugs. Methods of the artificial production of exosomes are not available, and exosome preparations obtained from tumor cells are not suitable for therapy. Milk is a biological fluid that is commercially available and may be a universal source of exosomes for treatment. Target delivery of anticancer drugs using milk exosomes can reduce the toxic effect of cytostatic agents during chemotherapy. This review discusses methods for isolating exosomes from milk, their additional purification, and analysis of their biologically significant components - proteins and nucleic acids, and prospects for using milk exosomes to treat cancer.