Exogenous Extracellular Vesicles as Emerging Platforms in Translational Medicine
Muran Bai, Zexu Li, Tianren Shi, Xiangling Li, Jia Li, Jian Ma, Lei Huang, Zhijin Fan
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale, membrane-bound carriers that are naturally secreted by cells and capable of transporting proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids across biological barriers. As key mediators of intercellular communication, EVs participate in immune regulation, tissue repair, and disease progression. The structural integrity of EVs, which is conferred by a lipid bilayer, protects cargo from degradation, while surface molecules facilitate targeted cell interactions. With increasing interest in their therapeutic utility, EVs have emerged as promising candidates in diagnostics, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine. EVs derived from milk, plants, and microbes exhibit distinct bioactivities, broadening the applicability in translational research. The intrinsic biocompatibility and low immunogenicity of EVs further enhance their clinical relevance. This review highlights recent advances in the understanding and biomedical utilization of exogenous EVs. The structural features, mechanisms of cellular uptake, and functional roles in modulating disease pathways are discussed. Furthermore, the unique advantages and challenges of leveraging exogenous EVs for clinical translation are explored, including standardization, loading efficiency, and targeting specificity. With continuous innovation at the interface of nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and biomedicine, exogenous EVs are poised to become next-generation platforms for precision therapy and regenerative strategies.