Introduction to the Community of Extracellular Vesicles

Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles: a new-generation nanostructured tool for chronic wound healing

Chronic nonhealing wounds pose a serious challenge to regaining skin function and integrity. Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (PEVs) are nanostructured particles with the potential to promote wound healing since they can enhance neovascularization and cell migration and reduce inflammation and scarring. This work provides an innovative overview of the technical laboratory issues in PEV production, PEVs' role in chronic wound healing and the benefits and challenges in its clinical translation. The article also explores the challenges of proper sourcing, extraction techniques and storage conditions, and discusses the necessity of further evaluations and combinational therapeutics, including dressing biomaterials, M2-derived exosomes, mesenchymal stem cells-derived extracellular vesicles and microneedle technology, to boost their therapeutic efficacy as advanced strategies for wound healing.

Emerging role of extracellular vesicles and exogenous stimuli in molecular mechanisms of peripheral nerve regeneration

Peripheral nerve injuries lead to significant morbidity and adversely affect quality of life. The peripheral nervous system harbors the unique trait of autonomous regeneration; however, achieving successful regeneration remains uncertain. Research continues to augment and expedite successful peripheral nerve recovery, offering promising strategies for promoting peripheral nerve regeneration (PNR). These include leveraging extracellular vesicle (EV) communication and harnessing cellular activation through electrical and mechanical stimulation. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), 30-150 nm in diameter, play a pivotal role in regulating intercellular communication within the regenerative cascade, specifically among nerve cells, Schwann cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts. Furthermore, the utilization of exogenous stimuli, including electrical stimulation (ES), ultrasound stimulation (US), and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), offers remarkable advantages in accelerating and augmenting PNR. Moreover, the application of mechanical and electrical stimuli can potentially affect the biogenesis and secretion of sEVs, consequently leading to potential improvements in PNR. In this review article, we comprehensively delve into the intricacies of cell-to-cell communication facilitated by sEVs and the key regulatory signaling pathways governing PNR. Additionally, we investigated the broad-ranging impacts of ES, US, and ESWT on PNR.

Functional Relevance of Extracellular Vesicle-Derived Long Non-Coding and Circular RNAs in Cancer Angiogenesis

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are defined as subcellular structures limited by a bilayer lipid membrane that function as important intercellular communication by transporting active biomolecules, such as proteins, amino acids, metabolites, and nucleic acids, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). These cargos can effectively be delivered to target cells and induce a highly variable response. LncRNAs are functional RNAs composed of at least 200 nucleotides that do not code for proteins. Nowadays, lncRNAs and circRNAs are known to play crucial roles in many biological processes, including a plethora of diseases including cancer. Growing evidence shows an active presence of lnc- and circRNAs in EVs, generating downstream responses that ultimately affect cancer progression by many mechanisms, including angiogenesis. Moreover, many studies have revealed that some tumor cells promote angiogenesis by secreting EVs, which endothelial cells can take up to induce new vessel formation. In this review, we aim to summarize the bioactive roles of EVs with lnc- and circRNAs as cargo and their effect on cancer angiogenesis. Also, we discuss future clinical strategies for cancer treatment based on current knowledge of circ- and lncRNA-EVs.

Extracellular Vesicles for Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale vesicles derived from cells that mediate intercellular communication by transporting bioactive molecules. They play significant roles in various physiological and pathological conditions. EVs hold great potential as novel biomarkers of diseases, therapeutic agents, and drug delivery vehicles. Furthermore, EVs as novel drug delivery vehicles have demonstrated significant advantages in preclinical settings. In this review, we discussed the biogenesis and characteristics of EVs and their functions in cancer. We summarize the therapeutic applications of EVs as a natural delivery vehicles in cancer therapy. We highlight the existing challenges, illuminate vital questions, and propose recommendations to effectively address them effectively.

Lectins as potential tools for cancer biomarker discovery from extracellular vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have considerable potential as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic agents, in large part because molecular patterns on the EV surface betray the cell of origin and may also be used to "target" EVs to specific cells. Cancer is associated with alterations to cellular and EV glycosylation patterns, and the surface of EVs is enriched with glycan moieties. Glycoconjugates of EVs play versatile roles in cancer including modulating immune response, affecting tumor cell behavior and site of metastasis and as such, paving the way for the development of innovative diagnostic tools and novel therapies. Entities that recognize specific glycans, such as lectins, may thus be powerful tools to discover and detect novel cancer biomarkers. Indeed, the past decade has seen a constant increase in the number of published articles on lectin-based strategies for the detection of EV glycans. This review explores the roles of EV glycosylation in cancer and cancer-related applications. Furthermore, this review summarizes the potential of lectins and lectin-based methods for screening, targeting, separation, and possible identification of improved biomarkers from the surface of EVs.

Placental Exosomes as Biomarkers for Maternal Diseases: Current Advances in Isolation, Characterization, and Detection

Serving as the interface between fetal and maternal circulation, the placenta plays a critical role in fetal growth and development. Placental exosomes are small membrane-bound extracellular vesicles released by the placenta during pregnancy. They contain a variety of biomolecules, including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, which can potentially be biomarkers of maternal diseases. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the utility of placental exosomes for the diagnosis and monitoring of pathological conditions such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. This suggests that placental exosomes may serve as new biomarkers in liquid biopsy analysis. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of the biological function of placental exosomes and their potential as biomarkers of maternal diseases. Additionally, this review highlights current barriers and the way forward for standardization and validation of known techniques for exosome isolation, characterization, and detection. Finally, microfluidic devices for exosome research are discussed.

The Therapeutic Potential of Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Endometrial Regeneration

Disruption of endometrial regeneration, fibrosis formation, and intrauterine adhesions underlie the development of "thin" endometrium and/or Asherman's syndrome (AS) and are a common cause of infertility and a high risk for adverse obstetric outcomes. The methods used (surgical adhesiolysis, anti-adhesive agents, and hormonal therapy) do not allow restoration of the regenerative properties of the endometrium. The experience gained today with cell therapy using multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MMSCs) proves their high regenerative and proliferative properties in tissue damage. Their contribution to regenerative processes is still poorly understood. One of these mechanisms is based on the paracrine effects of MMSCs associated with the stimulation of cells of the microenvironment by secreting extracellular vesicles (EVs) into the extracellular space. EVs, whose source is MMSCs, are able to stimulate progenitor cells and stem cells in damaged tissues and exert cytoprotective, antiapoptotic, and angiogenic effects. This review described the regulatory mechanisms of endometrial regeneration, pathological conditions associated with a decrease in endometrial regeneration, and it presented the available data from studies on the effect of MMSCs and their EVs on endometrial repair processes, and the involvement of EVs in human reproductive processes at the level of implantation and embryogenesis.

Extracellular Vesicles Biogenesis, Cargo Sorting and Implications in Disease Conditions

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small packages that contain proteins, lipids and nucleic acids and are released by various cell types [...].

Extracellular Vesicles as Drug Targets and Delivery Vehicles for Cancer Therapy

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are particles that are released from cells into the extracellular space both under pathological and normal conditions. It is now well established that cancer cells secrete more EVs compared to non-cancerous cells and that, captivatingly, several proteins that are involved in EV biogenesis and secretion are upregulated in various tumours. Recent studies have revealed that EVs facilitate the interaction between cancer cells and their microenvironment and play a substantial role in the growth of tumours. As EVs are involved in several aspects of cancer progression including angiogenesis, organotropism, pre-metastatic niche formation, fostering of metastasis, and chemoresistance, inhibiting the release of EVs from cancer and the surrounding tumour microenvironment cells has been proposed as an ideal strategy to treat cancer and associated paraneoplastic syndromes. Lately, EVs have shown immense benefits in preclinical settings as a novel drug delivery vehicle. This review provides a brief overview of the role of EVs in various hallmarks of cancer, focusing on (i) strategies to treat cancer by therapeutically targeting the release of tumour-derived EVs and (ii) EVs as valuable drug delivery vehicles. Furthermore, we also outline the drawbacks of the existing anti-cancer treatments and the future prospective of EV-based therapeutics.

Role of extracellular vesicles in mitochondrial eye diseases

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small packages that are released by almost all types of cells. While the role of EVs in pathogenesis of certain diseases such as cancer is well established, EVs role in ocular health and disease is still at early stages of investigation. Given the significant role of EVs in pathological development and progression of diseases such as cancer, EVs present a similar opportunity for investigation in ocular pathophysiology. Studies have shown the presence of EVs in fluids from the ocular environment have close links with ocular health and disease. Hence, the cargo carried in EVs from ocular fluids can be used for monitoring disease phenotypes or therapeutic outcomes in eye-related disorders. Furthermore, in recent times EVs have increasingly gained attention as therapeutics and drug-delivery vehicles for treatment of eye diseases. There is a close relationship between EVs and mitochondria functioning with mitochondria dysfunction leading to a significant number of ophthalmic disorders. This review discusses the current knowledge of EVs in visual systems with a special focus on eye diseases resulting from dysfunctional mitochondria.

Biomaterials and Extracellular Vesicle Delivery: Current Status, Applications and Challenges

In this review, we will discuss the current status of extracellular vesicle (EV) delivery via biopolymeric scaffolds for therapeutic applications and the challenges associated with the development of these functionalized scaffolds. EVs are cell-derived membranous structures and are involved in many physiological processes. Naïve and engineered EVs have much therapeutic potential, but proper delivery systems are required to prevent non-specific and off-target effects. Targeted and site-specific delivery using polymeric scaffolds can address these limitations. EV delivery with scaffolds has shown improvements in tissue remodeling, wound healing, bone healing, immunomodulation, and vascular performance. Thus, EV delivery via biopolymeric scaffolds is becoming an increasingly popular approach to tissue engineering. Although there are many types of natural and synthetic biopolymers, the overarching goal for many tissue engineers is to utilize biopolymers to restore defects and function as well as support host regeneration. Functionalizing biopolymers by incorporating EVs works toward this goal. Throughout this review, we will characterize extracellular vesicles, examine various biopolymers as a vehicle for EV delivery for therapeutic purposes, potential mechanisms by which EVs exert their effects, EV delivery for tissue repair and immunomodulation, and the challenges associated with the use of EVs in scaffolds.

Application of third-generation sequencing in cancer research

In the past several years, nanopore sequencing technology from Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology from Pacific BioSciences (PacBio) have become available to researchers and are currently being tested for cancer research. These methods offer many advantages over most widely used high-throughput short-read sequencing approaches and allow the comprehensive analysis of transcriptomes by identifying full-length splice isoforms and several other posttranscriptional events. In addition, these platforms enable structural variation characterization at a previously unparalleled resolution and direct detection of epigenetic marks in native DNA and RNA. Here, we present a comprehensive summary of important applications of these technologies in cancer research, including the identification of complex structure variants, alternatively spliced isoforms, fusion transcript events, and exogenous RNA. Furthermore, we discuss the impact of the newly developed nanopore direct RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) approach in advancing epitranscriptome research in cancer. Although the unique challenges still present for these new single-molecule long-read methods, they will unravel many aspects of cancer genome complexity in unprecedented ways and present an encouraging outlook for continued application in an increasing number of different cancer research settings.

Genomic Landscape of Liquid Biopsy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Personalized Medicine

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Advanced-stage HCC patients have poor survival rates and this requires the discovery of novel clear biomarkers for HCC early diagnosis and prognosis, identifying risk factors, distinguishing HCC from non-HCC liver diseases, and assessment of treatment response. Liquid biopsy has emerged as a novel minimally invasive approach to enable monitoring tumor progression, metastasis, and recurrence. Since the liquid biopsy analysis has relatively high specificity and low sensitivity in cancer early detection, there is a risk of bias. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies provide accurate and comprehensive gene expression and mutational profiling of liquid biopsies including cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and genomic components of extracellular vesicles (EVs) including micro-RNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Since HCC is a highly heterogeneous cancer, HCC patients can display various genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic patterns and exhibit varying sensitivity to treatment options. Identification of individual variabilities in genomic signatures in liquid biopsy has the potential to greatly enhance precision oncology capabilities. In this review, we highlight and critically discuss the latest progress in characterizing the genomic landscape of liquid biopsy, which can advance HCC personalized medicine.