Low-intensity ultrasound radiation increases exosome yield for efficient drug delivery

Abstract Exosomes are emerging as a promising drug delivery vehicle, while the low yield from the cell culture medium restricts their potential application. Exploring strategies boosting the yields would be of significant importance. In this study, we aimed to explore whether low intensity ultrasound (LIUS) irradiation could booster the exosome yield, while having no significant effects on the characteristics. Treatment of LIUS at 0.5 w/cm2 60 min significantly promotes exosomes secretion in A2780 cells, an ovary cancer cell model used to produce exosomes. Moreover, the resultant exosomes had no significant change in morphology, size, and in vivo distribution. Mechanistical study further suggest that LIUS boosts exosome secretion possibly via promoting the expression of exosome biosynthesis/secretion-related genes. Taken together, our data indicate that LIUS could promote exosome biosynthesis, which could be an effective method to increase exosome yield for drug delivery.