Recent Advances of Using Exosomes as Diagnostic Markers and Targeting Carriers for Cardiovascular Disease

An adhesive and self-healing ROS-scavenging hydrogel loading with hMSC-derived exosomes for diabetic wound healing

Diabetic wounds have garnered significant attention due to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), persistent inflammation, and vascular and neural impairments that hinder effective healing. ROS-scavenging hydrogels with phenylborate bonds possess inherent anti-ROS and anti-inflammatory properties, while human mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hMSC-exos) offer additional anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic, and neurogenic benefits, presenting a promising strategy to address these challenges. This study introduces a novel ROS-scavenging hydrogel loaded with hMSC-exos, which exhibits strong adhesion and self-healing capabilities. Upon application to the wound, it interacts with ROS to produce an anti-inflammatory response, concurrently allowing a sustained release of hMSC-exos. In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated that this hydrogel effectively reduces ROS levels, mitigates inflammation, and promotes angiogenesis and neurogenesis, thus enhancing functional skin restoration and accelerating wound healing. In summary, we propose an innovative therapeutic approach for diabetic wound healing by combining ROS-scavenging hydrogels with hMSC-exos, with the potential to significantly benefit patients.

Exosomes: a promising avenue for cancer diagnosis beyond treatment

Exosomes, extracellular vesicles secreted by cells, have garnered significant attention in recent years for their remarkable therapeutic potential. These nanoscale carriers can be harnessed for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, such as pharmaceuticals, proteins, and nucleic acids, across biological barriers. This versatile attribute of exosomes is a promising modality for precision medicine applications, notably in the realm of cancer therapy. However, despite their substantial therapeutic potential, exosomes still confront challenges tied to standardization and scalability that impede their practice in clinical applications. Moreover, heterogeneity in isolation methodologies and limited cargo loading mechanisms pose obstacles to ensuring consistent outcomes, thereby constraining their therapeutic utility. In contrast, exosomes exhibit a distinct advantage in cancer diagnosis, as they harbor specific signatures reflective of the tumor's genetic and proteomic profile. This characteristic endows them with the potential to serve as valuable liquid biopsies for non-invasive and real-time monitoring, making possible early cancer detection for the development of personalized treatment strategies. In this review, we provide an extensive evaluation of the advancements in exosome research, critically examining their advantages and limitations in the context of cancer therapy and early diagnosis. Furthermore, we present a curated overview of the most recent technological innovations utilizing exosomes, with a focus on enhancing the efficacy of early cancer detection.