Journal: European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Article Title: Towards implementing optimized methodologies and in-depth molecular profiling to assess the pharmacological potential of human lung fibroblast exosomes as bio-shuttles for cancer therapeutics.
doi: 10.1016/j.ejps.2025.107155
Figure Lengend Snippet: Fig. 1. Integrative experimental pipeline towards analyzing the utility of MRC-5 cell-derived exosomes as drug delivery systems of naturally derived anticancer compounds. The cell culture supernatant derived from normal lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells was subjected to initial low-speed centrifugation steps (2,500xg for 15 min, 3,500xg for 15 min, 25,000xg for 25 min) to obtain the exosome production medium (EP-medium) free of “contaminating” live/dead cells, cellular debris, apoptotic fragments and microvesicles. Exosomes were isolated from EP-medium following 3 different methodologies: (a) ultracentrifugation-based method using two sequential high-speed centrifugation steps (2x 135,000xg for 2 h), (b) membrane-based affinity binding method via exoEasy Maxi Kit, (c) a modified protocol employing EP-medium initial ultrafiltration via centrifugal filter units and exosome collection via membrane-based affinity binding method (exoEasy Maxi Kit). The exosomes collected via the (a), (b) and (c) exosome isolation approaches were subjected to morphological and physicochemical characterization using DLS technique for diameter and zeta-potential determination, Bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA) for total exosomal protein quantification and cryo-TEM analysis for exosome visu alization. Based on these data the modified protocol (c) was selected for downstream experimental assays. Specifically, the CD9 and CD63 exosomal protein markers were identified via Western Blotting and bead-based Flow Cytometry analysis. The total miRNA and the total proteomic profiling of isolated exosomes were accomplished via high throughput NGS and nano-LC-MS/MS analysis, respectively. Functional bioinformatic analysis and network construction were performed based on the miRNA and proteomic data. The MRC-5 cell-derived exosomes isolated via the method shown in (c) were labeled with DPPE-rhodamine lipid via the simple incubation method and subjected to cellular uptake assays to investigate the exosomes’ “intrinsic targetability” towards lung adenocarcinoma A549 and squamous tongue carcinoma HSC-3 cells using qualitative CLSM and quantitative flow cytometry analysis. Exosomes were also loaded with Curcumin and/or Doxorubicin via the simple incubation method and sonication-based or lyophilization-based approach, respectively, to investigate the drug encapsulation efficiency of exosomes as well as the pharmacological profile of drug-loaded exosomes via CLSM microscopy and cytotoxicity evaluation.
Article Snippet: Then, the immunoblots were blocked in 1 X PBST (0.1 % Tween 20) supplemented with 5 % skim milk and incubated with the primary monoclonal antibody against CD63 exosomal marker (1:5000 dilution, CD63 Monoclonal antibody, 67,605–1-lg, Proteintech Group, Rosemont, USA) overnight at RT.
Techniques: Derivative Assay, Cell Culture, Centrifugation, Isolation, Membrane, Binding Assay, Modification, Zeta Potential Analyzer, Acid Assay, Western Blot, Flow Cytometry, High Throughput Screening Assay, Liquid Chromatography with Mass Spectroscopy, Functional Assay, Labeling, Incubation, Sonication, Lyophilization, Encapsulation, Microscopy