Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Aug:175:113775.
doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.04.013. Epub 2021 Apr 17.

Extracellular vesicles for tissue repair and regeneration: Evidence, challenges and opportunities

Affiliations
Review

Extracellular vesicles for tissue repair and regeneration: Evidence, challenges and opportunities

Anika Nagelkerke et al. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are biological nanoparticles naturally secreted by cells, acting as delivery vehicles for molecular messages. During the last decade, EVs have been assigned multiple functions that have established their potential as therapeutic mediators for a variety of diseases and conditions. In this review paper, we report on the potential of EVs in tissue repair and regeneration. The regenerative properties that have been associated with EVs are explored, detailing the molecular cargo they carry that is capable of mediating such effects, the signaling cascades triggered in target cells and the functional outcome achieved. EV interactions and biodistribution in vivo that influence their regenerative effects are also described, particularly upon administration in combination with biomaterials. Finally, we review the progress that has been made for the successful implementation of EV regenerative therapies in a clinical setting.

Keywords: Clinical trial; EV engineering; EV-functionalized biomaterials; Mesenchymal stem cells; Regenerative medicine; Therapeutic cargo delivery.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types