Translational applications of exosomal proteomics in personalised medicine: using detailed proteomic analysis of exosomes to develop individualised therapeutic strategies.

Abstract

Exosomal proteomics is becoming an indispensable asset in the advancement of personalised medicine, offering a non-invasive means of disease characterisation, biomarker identification, and therapy customisation. Exosomes – nanoscale extracellular vesicles secreted by nearly all cell types, encapsulate a complex cargo of proteins, lipids, metabolites, and nucleic acids that mirror the physiological or pathological condition of their cellular origin. Among these, the proteomic constituents offer critical insight into intracellular pathways, rendering them highly valuable for elucidating disease mechanisms and tailoring molecularly informed treatments. Recent innovations in mass spectrometry-based proteomic technologies have refined the ability to decode disease-specific exosomal protein signatures, enabling early-stage diagnosis and real-time monitoring via liquid biopsies, especially in oncology. Additionally, exosomes are being investigated as next-generation therapeutic vehicles, engineered to deliver targeted biomolecules with high biocompatibility and minimal immunogenicity. Despite ongoing challenges in isolation standardisation, cargo heterogeneity, and clinical scalability, progress in exosome engineering and proteomic analytics continues to unlock new possibilities. The integration of exosomal proteomics into clinical practice marks a transformative shift towards precision medicine, where treatment strategies are increasingly aligned with individual molecular profiles. Exosomal proteomics is becoming an indispensable asset in the advancement of personalised medicine, offering a non-invasive means of disease characterisation, biomarker identification, and therapy customisation. Exosomes – nanoscale extracellular vesicles secreted by nearly all cell types, encapsulate a complex cargo of proteins, lipids, metabolites, and nucleic acids that mirror the physiological or pathological condition of their cellular origin. Among these, the proteomic constituents offer critical insight into intracellular pathways, rendering them highly valuable for elucidating disease mechanisms and tailoring molecularly informed treatments. Recent innovations in mass spectrometry-based proteomic technologies have refined the ability to decode disease-specific exosomal protein signatures, enabling early-stage diagnosis and real-time monitoring via liquid biopsies, especially in oncology. Additionally, exosomes are being investigated as next-generation therapeutic vehicles, engineered to deliver targeted biomolecules with high biocompatibility and minimal immunogenicity. Despite ongoing challenges in isolation standardisation, cargo heterogeneity, and clinical scalability, progress in exosome engineering and proteomic analytics continues to unlock new possibilities. The integration of exosomal proteomics into clinical practice marks a transformative shift towards precision medicine, where treatment strategies are increasingly aligned with individual molecular profiles.