Exosome-like systems: Nanotechnology to overcome challenges for targeted cancer therapies

Exosomes are natural extracellular nanovesicles (30–150 nm in diameter) with the ability to interact with and be taken up by specific cells. They are being explored as delivery systems and imaging agents for biomedical purposes owing to their biocompatibility, biostability in extracellular biofluids, and organotropic properties. However, their usefulness, efficacy, and clinical application are limited by certain critical parameters, including the need for more robust and reproducible manufacturing processes, characterization, quality control assessment, and clinical studies. Recently, exosome-like systems have emerged as alternatives for overcoming the limitations of natural exosomes. These systems are based on surface engineering approaches and nanoscale platforms that offer a deeper understanding and allow for more exhaustive standardization compared with natural exosomes. By combining the latest knowledge related to exosome research with the most promising developments in nanotechnology, exosome-like systems can be developed as a competitive approach for innovative targeted anti-cancer therapies. This review aims to provide a critical overview of the latest advances in designing and testing innovative exosome-like systems and the most promising modalities that can be translated into the clinic. Future perspectives and challenges in this field are discussed. •Despite several promising characteristics of natural exosomes, their translation to human treatments is still challenged.•Combining natural biomaterials with synthetic nanomaterials, exosome-inspired nanosystems show promise for effective anti-tumor therapies.•This review will showcase the latest advances in innovative exosome-like system design, testing, and their main applications in cancer.•A critical perspective of current status and main challenges in this field is here discussed.