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comment by thundara
thundara  ·  3353 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: January 21, 2015

I'm curious, since I know next to nothing about targeted delivery: why exosomes, as opposed to liposomes, virus capsules, nanoparticles, etc?





mk  ·  3353 days ago  ·  link  ·  

The idea is that we can get exosomes with anti-tumor effects that extend beyond the actions of the RNA(s) that we choose to deliver. Glioblastoma is a moving target (and is actually multiple targets), so I believe there is advantage to a more holistic approach. It is however, a tougher sell to those that are concerned with mechanism more than they are with the effect. :)

thundara  ·  3353 days ago  ·  link  ·  

How would they have anti-tumor effects beyond their payload? O.o

Side note: I saw Weinberg in person for the first time today! :O he walked by me while I was sitting on the floor.

mk  ·  3353 days ago  ·  link  ·  

The hope is that we can modify the exosomes so they have anti-tumor effects the go beyond the RNAs that we introduce to the producer cells that can be packaged in the exosomes they then export. It looks like the native cargo of marrow stromal exosomes can be supportive or suppressive based on the environment of the MSCs when they produce them. That is, they contain a cargo profile that has an effect upon tumor, and we want to bias that profile.

Re: Weinberg. That's awesome. Should get an autograph. :)