Summary

A facility in Southwest Virginia is developing technology to extract exosomes from milk for potential medical treatments. The research targets applications including cancer therapy, cardiac treatment, and protection against radiation exposure.

Key Facts

• The facility extracts exosomes from milk for potential therapeutic uses
• Proposed applications include cancer treatment, cardiac care, and radiation protection
• The technology aims to supply researchers and clinicians worldwide

Context

Exosomes are small vesicles that cells release naturally, and researchers have identified them as potential delivery vehicles for therapeutic compounds. The Virginia facility is working to produce these particles at scale using milk as a source material.

The technology's proposed applications span multiple medical fields. Researchers suggest milk-derived exosomes could carry drugs to cancer cells, aid in heart attack recovery, and provide protection for military personnel exposed to radiation. Such versatility stems from exosomes' ability to transport molecular cargo across biological barriers.

The facility aims to supply exosomes for research and clinical development globally, though the technology remains in relatively early stages of development and regulatory approval.

Sources

• Star-Exponent