Advances in extracellular vesicle functionalization strategies for tissue regeneration

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-scale vesicles derived by cell secretion with unique advantages such as promoting cell proliferation, anti-inflammation, promoting blood vessels and regulating cell differentiation, which benefit their wide applications in regenerative medicine. However, the in vivo therapeutic effect of EVs still greatly restricted by several obstacles, including the off-targetability, rapid blood clearance, and undesired release. To address these issues, biomedical engineering techniques are vastly explored. This review summarizes different strategies to enhance EV functions from the perspective of drug loading, modification, and combination of biomaterials, and emphatically introduces the latest developments of functionalized EV-loaded biomaterials in different diseases, including cardio-vascular system diseases, osteochondral disorders, wound healing, nerve injuries. Challenges and future directions of EVs are also discussed.

Automated summary

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-scale vesicles derived by cell secretion with unique advantages, which benefit their wide applications in regenerative medicine. However, the in vivo therapeutic effect of EVs still greatly restricted by several obstacles. This review summarizes different strategies to enhance EV functions and introduces the latest developments of functionalized EV-loaded biomaterials in different diseases. Challenges and future directions of EVs are also discussed.