Exosomes are defined as a type of extracellular vesicles released when multivesicular bodies of the endocytic pathway fuse with the plasma membrane. Partly due to their composition, they have several roles in extracellular communication and present the ability to recognize and interact with cells from the immune system, triggering an immune response. Due to their nanosized dimensions, targeting capability and possibility of applying loading methods, exosomes are great candidates for cancer therapy.

Chemotherapy is associated with cytotoxicity and multiple drug resistance. With the use of drug loaded exosomes, we are provided with an efficient and targeted way to deliver anticancer drugs specifically to cancer cells, overcoming many of the current disadvantages associated with chemotherapy.

This video presents a summary of the characteristics and composition of exosomes, as well as explaining in detail the involved parties in the origin of exosomes. Insight is given on how exosomes can be obtained and manipulated by describing the main isolation and loading techniques currently employed. Finally, some considerations about exosome application in immunotherapy are addressed and therapeutic applications of exosomes in cancer therapy are described.