📦 These protein-rich nanoparticles transport microRNAs and are nuclease-proof.
🔬 Their unique structure could advance RNA-based therapeutics.
⚗️Using tangential flow filtration, they improved exomere isolation speed and efficiency.
🌱 This discovery may enhance disease monitoring and gene silencing therapies.
📈 Exomeres show promise as stable, off-the-shelf RNA carriers.
Introduction:
This article discusses recent advancements in the purification and characterization of exomeres, which are protein-rich, nonvesicular nanoparticles implicated in cellular communication. Researchers led by S. Patrick Walton at Michigan State University have developed a scalable filtration technique that not only isolates these particles efficiently but also demonstrates that their RNA cargo exhibits remarkable resistance to enzymatic degradation, suggesting their potential as carriers in RNA-based therapeutics and diagnostics.
- Exomeres are newly identified nanoparticles that transport microRNAs (miRNAs) between cells and are smaller and more resilient than extracellular vesicles (EVs).
- Traditional methods of isolating exomeres have been inefficient, prompting the team to adapt tangential flow filtration (TFF) for a faster and scalable purification process.
- The TFF technique enables successive enrichment of exomeres within hours, resulting in a purified particle fraction that is free from typical EV contaminants.
- Exomeres have been shown to protect RNA from degradation by nucleases, indicating their stability for therapeutic applications.
- Although the study enhances the understanding of exomeres, questions remain about their specific structure and the presence of similar nanoparticle species in biological fluids.
Conclusion:
The research represents a significant stride in nanoparticle purification techniques that could pave the way for using exomeres as robust carriers for RNA-based therapies. The findings stress the importance of further validation in vivo, which could lead to their application as stable biomarkers for disease monitoring and a new class of therapeutic agents.
