# Engineering exosomes for cancer therapy - Modification technologies and subcellular targeting strategies: A review

## TL;DR

This review discusses how exosomes can be engineered to improve their ability to deliver cancer therapies by enhancing targeting and drug delivery efficiency.

## Contribution

The paper provides a systematic review of exosome engineering and subcellular targeting strategies for cancer therapy.

## Key findings

- Exosomes have advantages like low immunogenicity and biocompatibility, making them ideal for drug delivery.
- Engineering strategies improve exosome targeting precision and drug-loading efficiency.
- Subcellular targeting of structures like lysosomes and mitochondria enhances antitumor efficacy.

## Abstract

Exosomes are secreted lipid bilayer vesicles of 30–150 nm in diameter. Their low immunogenicity, excellent biocompatibility, and inherent targeting capability make them a promising drug delivery vehicle for cancer therapeutics. However, the use of natural exosomes is still challenging for therapeutic applications, including limited targeting precision and drug-loading efficiency, necessitating engineered modification strategies to optimize their performance. To further enhance exosome targeting capacity, recent studies have explored precision delivery strategies targeting subcellular structures such as lysosomes, nuclei, mitochondria, and the endoplasmic reticulum, thereby improving exosome therapeutic potential. This review systematically summarizes the core advantages of exosomes as drug carriers, elaborates on their engineering modification methods, and highlights recent advances in strategies to improve exosomes targeting of subcellular structures to enhance antitumor efficacy. The review aims to provide a theoretical foundation and technical guidance for developing exosome-based precision therapies for cancer.

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•A comparison between exosomes and other nanomaterials.•Engineering modifications of exosomes as anti-tumor drug carriers: classifications and examples.•Targeting subcellular structures of tumors may represent a direction for further enhancing anti-tumor efficacy.•Methods and examples for targeting various subcellular units.

A comparison between exosomes and other nanomaterials.

Engineering modifications of exosomes as anti-tumor drug carriers: classifications and examples.

Targeting subcellular structures of tumors may represent a direction for further enhancing anti-tumor efficacy.

Methods and examples for targeting various subcellular units.