Exosome-drug conjugates delivery: a promising strategy for ameliorating the pharmacokinetic profile of artesunate.

ABSTRACT: Artesunate (ATS) is considered the most widely employed artemisnin derivative in the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, poor solubility and low bioavailability of ATS limit its further clinical application. Herein, we developed a new strategy based on the exosome (exo) - drug conjugation (EDC) using the milk-derived exosomes for ATS delivery. The Exo-ATS conjugates (EACs) which formed via a facile bio-conjugation of ATS to the exosomal surface, have been demonstrated to be able to not only boost the solubility and bioavailability of ATS but also enable a sustained-release of ATS from exosomes. Maximal improvement of 71.4-fold in the solubility of ATS was attained by EACs. The corresponding entrapment efficiency and drug loading capacities were found to be 90.3% and

SUBMITTER: Wang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11345266 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature