Development of docetaxel loaded exosomes for cervical cancer and determination of therapeutic effects

Although the incidence of cervical cancer in women is high, it is common among cancer with deaths. Chemotherapies are used for cervical cancer and there are many studies on combined drug therapies. Encapsulation of pharmaceuticals into nanoparticles; It offers a solution to the problems experienced in cancer treatment thanks to its controlled release, reducing drug toxicity and targeting to the desired area. Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles released from the cells' own structures. It has been shown that exosomes can transfer proteins, RNAs, biomolecules to various cells. Exosomes have a mass manufactured capacity for drug delivery. There are also studies that it suppresses tumor growth. In this thesis study, was invastiged the therapeutic effects of docetaxel, a microtubule inhibitor, used in chemotherapy and were loaded into exosomes and a developmend new carrier system, for cervical cancer. In the study, exosomes released from HELA, which are cervical cancer cells, were isolated and docetaxel was loaded into the exosomes by electroporation. Characterization studies (particle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency) of loaded exosomes were done. MTT method was used to determine cytotoxicity. Applied to cells for cervical cancer treatment after appropriate dose was determined. The effect, on the cell migration of docetaxel loaded exosomes scratch test was performed. Intracellular expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, Pro caspase-3 and Pro caspase-9 proteins were determined using Western blot method to understand their effects on apoptosis. The effect on gene expression was determined by RT-PCR method. As a result of the studies, docetaxel loaded exosomes caused a higher cytotoxic effect than docetaxel solution. Studies have shown that docetaxel-loaded exosomes may be a new way of treating cancer.