Prostate Cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in the male population. It also represents the sixth cause of death every year. Different therapeutic strategies are available for the clinical management of the disease (surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy). Novertheless, research is shifting to innovative approaches based on the delivery of RNA interfering agents, including small interfering RNA (siRNA).

Despite their efficacy in promoting tumor suppression, siRNA-based strategies are negatively affected by poor delivery of siRNA, short half-life in vivo, and alteration of the immune response, which hinder their translation into clinical practice. In this context, exosomes can play a key role as delivery nanoparticles thanks to their natural involvement in intercellular transport of protein and nucleic acids. However, exosomes suffer from technical limitations (low targeting efficiency, poor biodistribution, endosome trapping).

ExonanoRNA proposes a novel approach. In fact, it uses RNA Nanotechnology to generate RNA Nanoparticles-Displaying Exosomes for the targeted delivery of siRNA in prostate cancer cells. The use of RNA nanoparticles associated with exosomes allows superior cell targeting and efficient delivery of siRNA. Exosomes displays a favorable pharmacokinetic profile, low immunogenicity and can avoid endosome trapping.