Exosome RNA Exosome RNA Research & Industry News
A research team led by researchers from the Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR), Italy, has explored an innovative way to use extracellular vesicles (EVs) as delivery systems for proteins, including allergens. EVs are tiny, naturally released particles that cells use to transport biological information, and they are increasingly being studied as drug delivery tools.
In this work, the researchers focused on nanoalgosomes, EVs derived from microalgae that are both eco-friendly and biocompatible. They tested whether these nanoalgosomes could carry a large protein cargo: Par j 4, an allergen from the plant Parietaria judaica.
Using techniques like extrusion and chromatography, the team successfully loaded Par j 4 into the nanoalgosomes. Advanced imaging showed that the allergen was well-hidden inside the vesicles, only detectable once the vesicles were broken apart. This “camouflage” effect could make it possible to deliver allergens in a controlled way, potentially opening new strategies for allergy treatment without harmful side effects.
The findings also highlight that nanoalgosomes can carry not just small drugs but also large proteins, broadening the possibilities for therapeutic applications of exosomes and other EVs.
