Advances in Therapeutic Applications of Extracellular Vesicles

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale bilayer phospholipid membrane vesicles released by cells. Contained large molecules such as nucleic acid, protein, and lipid, EVs are an integral part of cell communication. The contents of EVs vary based on the cell source and play an important role in both pathological and physiological conditions. EVs can be used as drugs or targets in disease treatment, and changes in the contents of EVs can indicate the progression of diseases. In recent years, with the continuous exploration of the structure, characteristics, and functions of EVs, the potential of engineered EVs for drug delivery and therapy being constantly explored. This review provides a brief overview of the structure, characteristics and functions of EVs, summarizes the advanced application of EVs and outlook on the prospect of it. It is our hope that this review will increase understanding of the current development of medical applications of EVs and help us overcome future challenges.

Molecular Determinants Involved in the Docking and Uptake of Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Implications in Cancer

“…Additionally, a better understanding of the molecules dictating the docking and uptake of EVs can help improve the effectiveness of emerging exosome-based delivery strategies and technologies for cancer therapy developed by biotech companies, either as platforms to load and deliver therapeutic miRNAs and/or proteins or as immunomodulating agents [ 157 , 158 , 159 , 160 , 161 , 162 , 163 ].…”

Advances in the application of extracellular vesicles derived from three-dimensional culture of stem cells

“…EVs can be produced by almost all cell types, and be extracted from diverse tissues, cell culture supernatants and body fluids, which contain various bioactive molecules such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, growth factors, and cytokines [ 13 , 14 ]. EVs, as important mediators of intercellular communication, can deliver their contents by binding to surface receptors, fusion with cells, endocytosis, phagocytosis, or macropinocytosis, thus affecting the physiological and pathological functions of the organism [ 15 , 16 ]. SCs exert therapeutic effects mainly through their paracrine functions, and EVs are important effectors of their paracrine effects [ 17 ].…”

Periodontal ligament stem cell-derived exosome-loaded Emodin mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy against cariogenic bacteria

“…To overcome these adverse effects, scientists have suggested the use of biological nano-biocarriers. Exosomes, which are small extracellular vesicles that range in size from 30–100 nm and contain various bioactive molecules including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, have been proposed as a promising solution due to their ability to penetrate biological barriers and target specific cells and tissues [ 21 , 22 ]. These nano-biocarriers can carry biologically active substances within their internal space or on their surface molecules, and their hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics make them capable of transporting various molecules [ 23 ].…”