Applications

Changes in the enrichment of exosome contents can reflect physiopathologic changes. The profiling of exosomal contents is more specific and stable. In addition, exosomes are easy to collect from urine or blood and are excellent candidates for liquid biopsy.

Exosomes are naturally endowed with the ability to transport various types of coding RNA, non-coding RNA, genomic DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and proteins, which allows them to deliver numerous forms of therapeutic substances. Engineering exosomes further enhance their potential to intervene in diverse diseases.

Exosomes can be engineered to carry antigens and used as sources of specific stimuli for immune responses against cancer. Using exosomes to transfer membrane proteins or their contents to alter cancer cell phenotypes facilitates the process of exosome-based vaccine development.

The boom in stem cell research has accelerated the research and application of stem cell exosomes. Studies have confirmed that stem cell exosomes have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic, inhibition of oxidative stress, enhancement of angiogenesis, and other roles involved in the application of tissue repair and regeneration.

Exosomes isolated from tissues have the advantages of being tissue-specific and accurately reflecting the tissue microenvironment, which can be used to accurately reflect disease pathology and permit analysis of the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the tissue microenvironment.

The study of plant exosomes from sources such as fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, and cereals is emerging. These plant exosomes have been shown to have good cross-species communication capabilities. Their application potential can be exploited by starting with pilot studies and gradually scaling up to large-scale manufacturing.

Several studies have found that exosome-like outer membrane vesicles can be isolated from bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. The study of these microbial exosomes has been beneficial in deepening the understanding of exosomes involved in realizing bidirectional communication between the microbiota and the host. In particular, the study of intestinal microbiota exosomes is beneficial in tapping their positive impact in mitigating intestinal diseases.