Biobanking of Exosomes in the Era of Precision Medicine: Are We There Yet?

Insight into the Functional Dynamics and Challenges of Exosomes in Pharmaceutical Innovation and Precision Medicine

Of all the numerous nanosized extracellular vesicles released by a cell, the endosomal-originated exosomes are increasingly recognized as potential therapeutics, owing to their inherent stability, low immunogenicity, and targeted delivery capabilities. This review critically evaluates the transformative potential of exosome-based modalities across pharmaceutical and precision medicine landscapes. Because of their precise targeted biomolecular cargo delivery, exosomes are posited as ideal candidates in drug delivery, enhancing regenerative medicine strategies, and advancing diagnostic technologies. Despite the significant market growth projections of exosome therapy, its utilization is encumbered by substantial scientific and regulatory challenges. These include the lack of universally accepted protocols for exosome isolation and the complexities associated with navigating the regulatory environment, particularly the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This review presents a comprehensive overview of current research trajectories aimed at addressing these impediments and discusses prospective advancements that could substantiate the clinical translation of exosomal therapies. By providing a comprehensive analysis of both the capabilities and hurdles inherent to exosome therapeutic applications, this article aims to inform and direct future research paradigms, thereby fostering the integration of exosomal systems into mainstream clinical practice.

Development of a Sampling and Storage Protocol of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs)-Establishment of the First EV Biobank for Polytraumatized Patients

In the last few years, several studies have emphasized the existence of injury-specific EV "barcodes" that could have significant importance for the precise diagnosis of different organ injuries in polytrauma patients. To expand the research potential of the NTF (network trauma research) biobank of polytraumatized patients, the NTF research group decided to further establish a biobank for EVs. However, until now, the protocols for the isolation, characterization, and storage of EVs for biobank purposes have not been conceptualized. Plasma and serum samples from healthy volunteers (n = 10) were used. Three EV isolation methods of high relevance for the work with patients' samples (ultracentrifugation, size exclusion chromatography, and immune magnetic bead-based isolation) were compared. EVs were quantified using nanoparticle tracking analysis, EV proteins, and miRNAs. The effects of different isolation solutions; the long storage of samples (up to 3 years); and the sensibility of EVs to serial freezing-thawing cycles and different storage conditions (RT, 4/-20/-80 °C, dry ice) were evaluated. The SEC isolation method was considered the most suitable for EV biobanking. We did not find any difference in the quantity of EVs between serum and plasma-EVs. The importance of particle-free PBS as an isolation solution was confirmed. Plasma that has been frozen for a long time can also be used as a source of EVs. Serial freezing-thawing cycles were found to affect the mean size of EVs but not their amount. The storage of EV samples for 5 days on dry ice significantly reduced the EV protein concentration.

Smart Nanoscale Extracellular Vesicles in the Brain: Unveiling their Biology, Diagnostic Potential, and Therapeutic Applications

Information exchange is essential for the brain, where it communicates the physiological and pathological signals to the periphery and vice versa. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of membrane-bound cellular informants actively transferring informative calls to and from the brain via lipids, proteins, and nucleic acid cargos. In recent years, EVs have also been widely used to understand brain function, given their "cell-like" properties. On the one hand, the presence of neuron and astrocyte-derived EVs in biological fluids have been exploited as biomarkers to understand the mechanisms and progression of multiple neurological disorders; on the other, EVs have been used in designing targeted therapies due to their potential to cross the blood-brain-barrier (BBB). Despite the expanding literature on EVs in the context of central nervous system (CNS) physiology and related disorders, a comprehensive compilation of the existing knowledge still needs to be made available. In the current review, we provide a detailed insight into the multifaceted role of brain-derived extracellular vesicles (BDEVs) in the intricate regulation of brain physiology. Our focus extends to the significance of these EVs in a spectrum of disorders, including brain tumors, neurodegenerative conditions, neuropsychiatric diseases, autoimmune disorders, and others. Throughout the review, parallels are drawn for using EVs as biomarkers for various disorders, evaluating their utility in early detection and monitoring. Additionally, we discuss the promising prospects of utilizing EVs in targeted therapy while acknowledging the existing limitations and challenges associated with their applications in clinical scenarios. A foundational comprehension of the current state-of-the-art in EV research is essential for informing the design of future studies.

Role of dendritic cell‑derived exosomes in allergic rhinitis (Review)

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common pathological condition in otorhinolaryngology. Its prevalence has been increasing worldwide and is becoming a major burden to the world population. Dendritic cells (DCs) are typically activated and matured after capturing, phagocytosing, and processing allergens during the immunopathogenesis of AR. In addition, the process of DC activation and maturation is accompanied by the production of exosomes, which are cell‑derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) that can carry proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and other cargoes involved in intercellular communication and material transfer. In particular, DC‑derived exosomes (Dex) can participate in allergic immune responses, where the biological substances carried by them can have potentially important implications for both the pathogenesis and treatment of AR. Dex can also be exploited to carry anti‑allergy agents to effectively treat AR. This provides a novel method to explore the pathogenesis of and treatment strategies for AR further. Therefore, the present review focuses on the origin, composition, function, and biological characteristics of DCs, exosomes, and Dex, in addition to the possible relationship between Dex and AR.

Emerging Microfluidic Tools for Simultaneous Exosomes and Cargo Biosensing in Liquid Biopsy: New Integrated Miniaturized FFF-Assisted Approach for Colon Cancer Diagnosis

The early-stage diagnosis of cancer is a crucial clinical need. The inadequacies of surgery tissue biopsy have prompted a transition to a less invasive profiling of molecular biomarkers from biofluids, known as liquid biopsy. Exosomes are phospholipid bilayer vesicles present in many biofluids with a biologically active cargo, being responsible for cell-to-cell communication in biological systems. An increase in their excretion and changes in their cargo are potential diagnostic biomarkers for an array of diseases, including cancer, and they constitute a promising analyte for liquid biopsy. The number of exosomes released, the morphological properties, the membrane composition, and their content are highly related to the physiological and pathological states. The main analytical challenge to establishing liquid biopsy in clinical practice is the development of biosensors able to detect intact exosomes concentration and simultaneously analyze specific membrane biomarkers and those contained in their cargo. Before analysis, exosomes also need to be isolated from biological fluids. Microfluidic systems can address several issues present in conventional methods (i.e., ultracentrifugation, size-exclusion chromatography, ultrafiltration, and immunoaffinity capture), which are time-consuming and require a relatively high amount of sample; in addition, they can be easily integrated with biosensing systems. A critical review of emerging microfluidic-based devices for integrated biosensing approaches and following the major analytical need for accurate diagnostics is presented here. The design of a new miniaturized biosensing system is also reported. A device based on hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation followed by luminescence-based immunoassay is applied to isolate intact exosomes and characterize their cargo as a proof of concept for colon cancer diagnosis.

Bioengineering extracellular vesicles: smart nanomaterials for bone regeneration

In the past decade, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as key regulators of bone development, homeostasis and repair. EV-based therapies have the potential to circumnavigate key issues hindering the translation of cell-based therapies including functional tissue engraftment, uncontrolled differentiation and immunogenicity issues. Due to EVs' innate biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and high physiochemical stability, these naturally-derived nanoparticles have garnered growing interest as potential acellular nanoscale therapeutics for a variety of diseases. Our increasing knowledge of the roles these cell-derived nanoparticles play, has made them an exciting focus in the development of novel pro-regenerative therapies for bone repair. Although these nano-sized vesicles have shown promise, their clinical translation is hindered due to several challenges in the EV supply chain, ultimately impacting therapeutic efficacy and yield. From the biochemical and biophysical stimulation of parental cells to the transition to scalable manufacture or maximising vesicles therapeutic response in vivo, a multitude of techniques have been employed to improve the clinical efficacy of EVs. This review explores state of the art bioengineering strategies to promote the therapeutic utility of vesicles beyond their native capacity, thus maximising the clinical potential of these pro-regenerative nanoscale therapeutics for bone repair.

Challenges and Opportunities for Extracellular Vesicles in Clinical Oncology Therapy

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound vesicles that can be released by all cell types. They may have different biogenesis, physical features, and cargo. EVs are important biomarkers for the diagnosis and prediction of many diseases due to their essential role in intercellular communication, their highly variable cargoes, and their accumulation in various body fluids. These natural particles have been investigated as potential therapeutic materials for many diseases. In our previous studies, the clinical usage of tumor-cell-derived microparticles (T-MPs) as a novel medication delivery system was examined. This review summarizes the clinical translation of EVs and related clinical trials, aiming to provide suggestions for safer and more effective oncology therapeutic systems, particularly in biotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic systems.

Metabolites as extracellular vesicle cargo in health, cancer, pleural effusion, and cardiovascular diseases: An emerging field of study to diagnostic and therapeutic purposes

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are highly diverse nanoscale membrane-bound structures released from different cell types into the extracellular environment. They play essential functions in cell signaling by transporting their cargo, such as proteins, RNA, DNA, lipids, metabolites, and small molecules, to recipient cells. It has recently been shown that EVs might modulate carcinogenesis by delivering cargo to recipient cells. Furthermore, recent discoveries revealed that changes in plasma-derived EV levels and cargo in subjects with metabolic diseases were documented by many researchers, suggesting that EVs might be a promising source of disease biomarkers. One of the cargos of EVs that has recently attracted the most attention is metabolites. The metabolome of these vesicles introduces a plethora of disease indicators; hence, examining the metabolomics of EVs detected in human biofluids would be an effective approach. On the other hand, metabolites have various roles in biological systems, including the production of energies, synthesizing macromolecules, and serving as signaling molecules and hormones. Metabolome rewiring in cancer and stromal cells is a characteristic of malignancy, but the current understanding of how this affects the metabolite composition and activity of tumor-derived EVs remains in its infancy. Since new findings and studies in the field of exosome biology and metabolism are constantly being published, it is likely that diagnostic and treatment techniques, including the use of exosome metabolites, will be launched in the coming years. Recent years have seen increased interest in the EV metabolome as a possible source for biomarker development. However, our understanding of the role of these molecules in health and disease is still immature. In this work, we have provided the latest findings regarding the role of metabolites as EV cargoes in the pathophysiology of diseases, including cancer, pleural effusion (PE), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We also discussed the significance of metabolites as EV cargoes of microbiota and their role in host-microbe interaction. In addition, the latest findings on metabolites in the form of EV cargoes as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and treatment are presented in this study.

Extracellular vesicles from human plasma for biomarkers discovery: Impact of anticoagulants and isolation techniques

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from plasma are increasingly recognized as promising circulating biomarkers for disease discovery and progression, as well as for therapeutic drug delivery. The scientific community underlined the necessity of standard operative procedures for the isolation and storage of the EVs to ensure robust results. The understanding of the impact of the pre-analytical variables is still limited and some considerations about plasma anticoagulants and isolation methods are necessary. Therefore, we performed a comparison study between EVs isolated by ultracentrifugation and by affinity substrate separation from plasma EDTA and sodium citrate. The EVs were characterized by Nano Tracking Analysis, Western Blot, cytofluorimetric analysis of surface markers, and lipidomic analysis. While anticoagulants did not significantly alter any of the analyzed parameters, the isolation methods influenced EVs size, purity, surface markers expression and lipidomic profile. Compared to ultracentrifugation, affinity substrate separation yielded bigger particles highly enriched in tetraspanins (CD9, CD63, CD81), fatty acids and glycerolipids, with a predominant LDL- and vLDL-like contamination. Herein, we highlighted that the isolation method should be carefully evaluated prior to study design and the need of standardized operative procedures for EVs isolation and application to biomarkers discovery.

Mesenchymal stromal cells in the regeneration of radiation-induced organ sequelae: will they make the difference?

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a stem cell product with good safety that demonstrate significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of different pathologies, including radiation diseases (e.g. radiological burns, pelvic radiation disease). While the first results for some first human applications for the treatment of radiation disease suggest benefit, larger trials with clinically important endpoints are needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn. However, the supply and cost of MSCs remain the two main limitations for this innovative therapeutic product. Exosomes (EXOs), a stem cell product associated with MSC therapy, have shown promising efficacy and safety in humans. MSC-EXO therapeutics represent a promising next-generation approach for treating radiation diseases involving a primary (major) inflammatory component. Provided that conditions for MSC-EXO production and bio-banking are agreed in the near future, the transition to industrial production of MSC-EXOs will be possible, and this is required to initiate well-controlled clinical trials for approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Benchmarking a Microfluidic-Based Filtration for Isolating Biological Particles

Isolating particles from complex fluids is a crucial approach in multiple fields including biomedicine. In particular, biological matrices contain a myriad of distinct particles with different sizes and structures. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), for instance, are nanosized particles carrying vital information from donor to recipient cells, and they have garnered significant impact on disease diagnostics, drug delivery, and theranostics applications. Among all the EV types, exosome particles are one of the smallest entities, sizing from 30 to 100 nm. Separating such small substances from a complex media such as tissue culture and serum is still one of the most challenging steps in this field. Membrane filtration is one of the convenient approaches for these operations; yet clogging, low-recovery, and high fouling are still major obstacles. In this study, we design a two-filter-integrated microfluidic device focusing on dead-end and cross-flow processes at the same time, thereby minimizing any interfering factors on the recovery. The design of this platform is also numerically assessed to understand pressure-drop and flow rate effects over the procedure. As a model, we isolate exosome particles from human embryonic kidney cells cultured in different conditions, which also mimic complex fluids such as serum. Moreover, by altering the flow direction, we refresh the membranes for minimizing clogging issues and benchmark the platform performance for multitime use. By comprehensively analyzing the design and operation parameters of this platform, we address the aforementioned existing barriers in the recovery, clogging, and fouling factors, thereby achieving the use of a microfluidic device multiple times for bio-nanoparticle isolation without any notable issues.

Extracellular Vesicle Proteome in Prostate Cancer: A Comparative Analysis of Mass Spectrometry Studies

Molecular diagnostics based on discovery research holds the promise of improving screening methods for prostate cancer (PCa). Furthermore, the congregated information prompts the question whether the urinary extracellular vesicles (uEV) proteome has been thoroughly explored, especially at the proteome level. In fact, most extracellular vesicles (EV) based biomarker studies have mainly targeted plasma or serum. Therefore, in this study, we aim to inquire about possible strategies for urinary biomarker discovery particularly focused on the proteome of urine EVs. Proteomics data deposited in the PRIDE archive were reanalyzed to target identifications of potential PCa markers. Network analysis of the markers proposed by different prostate cancer studies revealed moderate overlap. The recent throughput improvements in mass spectrometry together with the network analysis performed in this study, suggest that a larger standardized cohort may provide potential biomarkers that are able to fully characterize the heterogeneity of PCa. According to our analysis PCa studies based on urinary EV proteome presents higher protein coverage compared to plasma, plasma EV, and voided urine proteome. This together with a direct interaction of the prostate gland and urethra makes uEVs an attractive option for protein biomarker studies. In addition, urinary proteome based PCa studies must also evaluate samples from bladder and renal cancers to assess specificity for PCa.

The role of Extracellular Vesicles during CNS development

With a diverse set of neuronal and glial cell populations, Central Nervous System (CNS) has one of the most complex structures in the body. Intercellular communication is therefore highly important to coordinate cell-to-cell interactions. Besides electrical and chemical messengers, CNS cells also benefit from another communication route, what is known as extracellular vesicles, to harmonize their interactions. Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) and their subtype exosomes are membranous particles secreted by cells and contain information packaged in the form of biomolecules such as small fragments of DNA, lipids, miRNAs, mRNAs, and proteins. They are able to efficiently drive changes upon their arrival to recipient cells. EVs actively participate in all stages of CNS development by stimulating neural cell proliferation, differentiation, synaptic formation, and mediating reciprocal interactions between neurons and oligodendrocyte for myelination process. The aim of the present review is to enlighten the presence and contribution of EVs at each CNS developmental milestone.

Basic principles of biobanking: from biological samples to precision medicine for patients

The term "biobanking" is often misapplied to any collection of human biological materials (biospecimens) regardless of requirements related to ethical and legal issues or the standardization of different processes involved in tissue collection. A proper definition of biobanks is large collections of biospecimens linked to relevant personal and health information (health records, family history, lifestyle, genetic information) that are held predominantly for use in health and medical research. In addition, the International Organization for Standardization, in illustrating the requirements for biobanking (ISO 20387:2018), stresses the concept of biobanks being legal entities driving the process of acquisition and storage together with some or all of the activities related to collection, preparation, preservation, testing, analysing and distributing defined biological material as well as related information and data. In this review article, we aim to discuss the basic principles of biobanking, spanning from definitions to classification systems, standardization processes and documents, sustainability and ethical and legal requirements. We also deal with emerging specimens that are currently being generated and shaping the so-called next-generation biobanking, and we provide pragmatic examples of cancer-associated biobanking by discussing the process behind the construction of a biobank and the infrastructures supporting the implementation of biobanking in scientific research.

A predictive biomarker panel for bone metastases: Liquid biopsy approach

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Data mining of published microarray datasets directed us to the identification of a multi gene panel involving of 15 genes that are particular to bone metastases.

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Serum exosomal markers HSP90AA1, SPP1, IL3, and PTK2 found in the present study might be useful in detecting the early spread of bone metastases leading to better clinical outcomes.

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This multi-gene panel and their related pathways may assist as promising conclusion predictors using novel approaches of exosome as liquid biopsy and their application in therapeutic targets in breast and lung cancer patients with bone metastases.

Bone metastases is one of the common metastatic site and leading cause of cancer-related mortality in progressive cancer patients. The purpose of the present study is to establish a liquid biopsy based multi-gene classifier and associated signalling pathways for early diagnosis of bone metastases. We used publically available microarray datasets and analysed them in a platform/chip-specific manner using GeneSpring software. Analyses of gene expression datasets identified 15 consistently over-expressed genes with statistical significance. Further, expression profile of same set of 15 genes were compared in breast and lung cancer exosome derived mRNA with (n = 10) and without (n = 10) bone metastases against healthy controls. ROC curve analysis performed individually for all the 15 genes shortlisted the 5 most relevant genes with significant sensitivity and specificity in both cancers. This liquid biopsy-based bone metastases predictor using multi-gene panel is a unique approach with potential clinical applications for effective management of aggressive cancers.

Clinical applications for exosomes: Are we there yet?

Exosomes are a subset of extracellular vesicles essential for cell-cell communication in health and disease with the ability to transport nucleic acids, functional proteins and other metabolites. Their clinical use as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic carriers has become a major field of research over recent years, generating rapidly expanding scientific interest and financial investment. Their reduced immunogenicity compared to liposomes or viral vectors and their ability to cross major physiological barriers like the blood-brain barrier make them an appealing and innovative option as biomarkers and therapeutic agents. Here, we review the latest clinical developments of exosome biotechnology for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including the most recent COVID-19-related exosome-based clinical trials. We present current exosome engineering strategies for optimal clinical safety and efficacy, and assess the technology developed for good manufacturing practice compliant scaling up and storage approaches along with their limitations in pharmaceutical industry.

Advances in Exosome Analysis Methods with an Emphasis on Electrochemistry

Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles, are released by various cell types. They are found in bodily fluids, including blood, urine, serum, and saliva, and play essential roles in intercellular communication. Exosomes contain various biomarkers, such as nucleic acids and proteins, that reflect the status of their parent cells. Since they influence tumorigenesis and metastasis in cancer patients, exosomes are excellent noninvasive potential indicators for early cancer detection. Aptamers with specific binding properties have distinct advantages over antibodies, making them effective versatile bioreceptors for the detection of exosome biomarkers. Here, we review various aptamer-based exosome detection approaches based on signaling methods, such as fluorescence, colorimetry, and chemiluminescence, focusing on electrochemical strategies that are easier, cost-effective, and more sensitive than others. Further, we discuss the clinical applications of electrochemical exosome analysis strategies as well as future research directions in this field.

Plasma extracellular vesicles detected by Single Molecule array technology as a liquid biopsy for colorectal cancer

Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) were recognized as a promising source of diagnostic biomarker. However, there are limited studies published in this area, partly due to the limited number of detection platforms capable of detecting extracellular vesicles. In this study, extracellular vesicle immunoassays were developed using the Single Molecule array technology (SiMoa) and their clinical applications to cancer diagnosis were evaluated. Two extracellular vesicle detection assays, CD9-CD63 and Epcam-CD63, were designed to detect universal extracellular vesicles and tumour-derived extracellular vesicles, respectively. Our results show that CD9-CD63 and Epcam-CD63 SiMoa assays specifically detect extracellular vesicles but not free proteins with high sensitivities. The Epcam-CD63 levels detected in cancer cell culture media were consistent with levels of Epcam-expressing EVs isolated from the same cancer cell lines and detected by Western blot. Furthermore, the assays distinguish cancerous from non-cancerous plasma samples. The highest CD9-CD63 and Epcam-CD63 signals were observed in colorectal cancer patients comparing to healthy and benign controls. Both assays showed superior diagnostic performance for colorectal cancer. In addition, our results show that CD9-CD63 detection is an independent prognosis factor for both progression free survival and overall survival, while Epcam-CD63 detectionis an independent prognosis factor for OS.

Methods for Separation and Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles: Results of a Worldwide Survey Performed by the ISEV Rigor and Standardization Subcommittee

Research on extracellular vesicles (EVs) is growing exponentially due to an increasing appreciation of EVs as disease biomarkers and therapeutics, an expanding number of EV-containing materials under study, and application of new preparation, detection, and cargo analysis methods. Diversity of both sources and methodologies imposes challenges on the comparison of measurement results between studies and laboratories. While reference guidelines and minimal requirements for EV research have achieved the important objective of assembling community consensus, it is also essential to understand which methodologies and quality controls are currently being applied, and how usage trends are evolving. As an initial response to this need, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) performed a worldwide survey in 2015 on "Techniques used for the isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles" and published the results from this survey in 2016. In 2019, a new survey was performed to assess the changing state of the field. The questionnaire received more than 600 full or partial responses, and the present manuscript summarizes the results of this second worldwide survey. The results emphasize that separation methods such as ultracentrifugation and density gradients are still the most commonly used methods, the use of size exclusion chromatography has increased, and techniques based on tangential flow and microfluidics are now being used by more than 10% of respondents. The survey also reveals that most EV researchers still do not perform sample quality controls before or after isolation of EVs. Finally, the majority of EV researchers emphasize that separation and characterization of EVs should receive more attention.

The potential diagnostic and prognostic role of extracellular vesicles in glioma: current status and future perspectives

Lack of appropriate diagnostic/prognostic tools for glioblastoma (GB) is considered one of the major setbacks in the early diagnosis and treatment of this deadly brain tumor. The current gold standard for its diagnosis and staging still relies on invasive biopsy followed by histological examination as well as molecular profiling. Nevertheless, noninvasive approaches are being explored and one example is through the investigation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the biofluids of GB patients. EVs are known to carry molecular cargoes such as DNA, mRNA, miRNA, proteins and lipids in almost every type of body fluids. Thus, molecular signature of GB may be present in the EVs derived from these patients. This review focuses on the diagnostic/prognostic potential of EVs in GB, through presenting recent studies on (i) molecular components of EVs, (ii) links between EVs and GB tumor microenvironment, and (iii) clinical potential of EV biomarkers, together with the technical shortcomings researchers need to consider for future studies.

Tracking iron oxide labelled mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a rat model of hepatic cirrhosis

Homing and tumor attenuation potential of BM-MSCs labelled with superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in a rat model of hepatic cirrhosis was evaluated. Rat BM-MSCs were derived, characterized and labelled with SPIONs (200 nm; 25 mg Fe/ml). Hepatic cirrhosis was induced in Wistar rats (n=30; 10/group) with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4; 0.3 mL/kg body weight) injected twice a week for 12 weeks. Group-I was administered vehicle (castor-oil) alone; Group-II received two doses of unlabelled BM-MSCs (3x106 cells) and Group-III received two doses of SPIONs labelled BM-MSCs (3x106 cells) via tail vein injection (0.5 ml) at weekly intervals. All animals were sacrificed after two weeks for histological, radiological and biochemical analysis. Derived BM-MSCs demonstrated MSCs related CD markers. Histology confirmed induction of hepatic cirrhosis with CCL4. Levels of alanine-aminotransferase, aspartate-aminotransferase,alkaline-phosphatase and gamma glutamyl-transferase returned to normal levels following treatment with BM-MSCs. Uptake and homing of SPIONs labelled BM-MSCs, and reduction in the size of cirrhotic nodules were confirmed using transmission electron microscopy and magnetic resonance imaging respectively. BM-MSCs reduced the pathological effects of CCL4 induced hepatic cirrhosis and labelling BMMSCs with SPIONs were non-toxic and enabled efficient tracking using non-invasive methods.

New windows into the brain: Central nervous system-derived extracellular vesicles in blood

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and (shedding) microvesicles, are released by nearly all cell types and carry a cargo of proteins and nucleic acids that varies by the cell of origin. They are thought to play critical roles in normal central nervous system (CNS) function and neurological disorders. A recently revealed key characteristic of EVs is that they may travel between the CNS and peripheral circulation. This property has led to intense interest in how EVs might serve as a vehicle for toxic protein clearance and as a readily accessible source of biomarkers for CNS disorders. Furthermore, by bypassing the blood-brain barrier, modified EVs could serve as a unique drug delivery system that targets specific neuronal populations. Further work is necessary to develop and optimize techniques that enable high-yield capture of relevant EV populations, analyze individual EVs and their cargos, and validate preliminary results of EV-derived biomarkers in independent cohorts.

Microfluidic engineering of exosomes: editing cellular messages for precision therapeutics

Study of extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly exosomes, holds significant promise; however, it is technically challenging to define these small and molecularly diverse nanovesicles. With intrinsic molecular payload and biodegradability, molecular engineering of exosomes opens new avenues for mediating cellular responses and developing novel nano-delivery systems in precision therapeutics. Microfluidic lab-on-chip technology is playing pivotal roles in this emerging field. In this review, we have examined scientific advancements of microfluidic technology for engineering exosomes and assessed future applications and perspectives in developing precision therapeutics; this can serve the community via identification of potential new research areas or technologies that are urgently needed in precision therapeutics.

Extracellular vesicles as circulating cancer biomarkers: opportunities and challenges

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small, lipid-bound particles containing nucleic acid and protein cargo which are excreted from cells under a variety of normal and pathological conditions. EVs have garnered substantial research interest in recent years, due to their potential utility as circulating biomarkers for a variety of diseases, including numerous types of cancer. The following review will discuss the current understanding of the form and function of EVs, their specific role in cancer pathogenesis and their potential for non-invasive disease diagnosis and/or monitoring. This review will also highlight several key issues for this field, including the importance of implementing robust and reproducible sample handling protocols, and the challenge of extracting an EV-specific biomarker signal from a complex biological background.

Monitoring wastewater for assessing community health: Sewage Chemical-Information Mining (SCIM)

Timely assessment of the aggregate health of small-area human populations is essential for guiding the optimal investment of resources needed for preventing, avoiding, controlling, or mitigating human exposure risks, as well as for maintaining or promoting health. Seeking those interventions yielding the greatest benefit with respect to the allocation of resources is critical for making progress toward community sustainability, reducing health disparities, promoting social justice, and maintaining or improving collective health and well-being. More informative, faster, and less-costly approaches are needed for guiding investigation of cause-effect linkages involving communities and stressors originating from both the built and natural environments. One such emerging approach involves the continuous monitoring of sewage for chemicals that serve as indicators of the collective status of human health (or stress/disease) or any other facet relevant to gauging time-trends in community-wide health. This nascent approach can be referred to as Sewage Chemical-Information Mining (SCIM) and involves the monitoring of sewage for the information that resides in the form of natural and anthropogenic chemicals that enter sewers as a result of the everyday actions, activities, and behaviors of humans. Of particular interest is a specific embodiment of SCIM that would entail the targeted monitoring of a broad suite of endogenous biomarkers of key physiologic processes (as opposed to xenobiotics or their metabolites). This application is termed BioSCIM-an approach roughly analogous to a hypothetical community-wide collective clinical urinalysis, or to a hypothetical en masse human biomonitoring program. BioSCIM would be used for gauging the status or time-trends in community-wide health on a continuous basis. This paper presents an update on the progress made with the development of the BioSCIM concept in the period of time since its original publication in 2012, as well as the next steps required for its continued development.

Exosomes as Reconfigurable Therapeutic Systems

Historically, small molecules, including steroid hormones and cytokines, have been attributed a role in paracrine and endocrine signaling, and now include a new player: biological nanoparticles, or 'exosomes'. Generated intracellularly, and defined simply as nanoparticulate packages of signaling moieties, exosomes have emerged as vehicles for highly specialized local and distant intercellular communication. Exosomes are increasingly being recognized as contributing factors in many diseases, and their potential as biomarkers and in therapeutics is rapidly emerging. This review highlights recent advances in the exploitation of exosomes in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. We discuss various facets of nanoparticles, namely the isolation and manipulation of exosomes, the construction of synthetic exosome-like particles in vivo, and their potential use in the treatment of various diseases.

Technical challenges of working with extracellular vesicles

Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are gaining interest as central players in liquid biopsies, with potential applications in diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic guidance in most pathological conditions. These nanosized particles transmit signals determined by their protein, lipid, nucleic acid and sugar content, and the unique molecular pattern of EVs dictates the type of signal to be transmitted to recipient cells. However, their small sizes and the limited quantities that can usually be obtained from patient-derived samples pose a number of challenges to their isolation, study and characterization. These challenges and some possible options to overcome them are discussed in this review.

Exosomes as a liquid biopsy for lung cancer

In lung cancer and other malignancies, the so-called "liquid biopsy" is quickly moving into clinical practice. Its full potential has not yet been fully identified, but the "liquid biopsy" is no longer a promise but has become a reality that allows for better treatment selection and monitoring of lung cancer. This emerging field has significant potential to make up for the limitations of the traditional tissue-derived biomaterials. Exosomes are spherical nano-sized vesicles with a diameter of 40-100 nm and a density of 1.13-1.19 g/ml. In both physiological and pathological conditions, exosomes can be released by different cell types, including immune cells, stem cells and tumor cells. These small molecules may serve as promising biomarkers in lung cancer "liquid biopsy" as they can be easily obtained from most body fluids. In addition, the lipid bilayer of exosomes allows for stable cargoes which are relatively hard to degrade. Furthermore, the composition of exosomes reflects that of their parental cells, suggesting that exosomes are potential surrogates of the original cells and, therefore, are useful for understanding cell biology. Previous studies have demonstrated that exosomes play important roles in cell-to-cell communication. Moreover, tumor-derived exosomes are evolved in tumor-specific biological process, including tumor proliferation and progression. Recently, a growing number of studies has focused on exosomal cargo and their use in lung cancer genesis and progression. In addition, their utility as lung cancer diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers have also been studied. The current review primarily summaries lung cancer-related exosomal biomarkers that have recently been identified and discusses their potential in clinical practice.

Are exosomes the vehicle for protein aggregate propagation in neurodegenerative diseases?

Abnormal protein aggregation has been implicated in neurodegenerative processes in human neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Recently, studies have established a novel concept that protein aggregates are transmitted among neuronal cells. By extension, such interneuronal aggregate transmission has been hypothesized to be the underlying mechanism for the pathological and clinical disease progression. However, the precise mechanism of the interneuronal aggregate transmission remains ill-defined. Recent reports have suggested that exosomes, a specific group of extracellular vesicles that are involved in intercellular transfer of cellular macromolecules such as proteins and RNAs, could play an important role in the aggregate transmission among neurons. Here, we review various types of extracellular vesicles and critically evaluate the evidence supporting the role of exosomes in interneuronal aggregate transmission and neurodegeneration. We also discuss the competing mechanisms other than the exosome-mediated transmission. By doing so, we aim to assess the current state of knowledge on the mechanism of interneuronal aggregate transmission and suggest the future directions of research towards understanding the mechanism.

Insights into cell-free therapeutic approach: Role of stem cell "soup-ernatant"

Current advances in medicine have revolutionized the field of regenerative medicine dramatically with newly evolved therapies for repair or replacement of degenerating or injured tissues. Stem cells (SCs) can be harvested from different sources for clinical therapeutics, which include fetal tissues, umbilical cord blood, embryos, and adult tissues. SCs can be isolated and differentiated into desired lineages for tissue regeneration and cell replacement therapy. However, several loopholes need to be addressed properly before this can be extended for large-scale therapeutic application. These include a careful approach for patient safety during SC treatments and tolerance of recipients. SC treatments are associated with a number of risk factors and require successful integration and survival of transplanted cells in the desired microenvironment with concurrent tissue regeneration. Recent studies have focused on developing alternatives that can replace the cell-based therapy using paracrine factors. The development of stem "cell free" therapies can be devoted mainly to the use of soluble factors (secretome), extracellular vesicles, and mitochondrial transfer. The present review emphasizes on the paradigms related to the use of SC-based therapeutics and the potential applications of a cell-free approach as an alternative to cell-based therapy in the area of regenerative medicine.

Extracellular vesicles in blood, milk and body fluids of the female and male urogenital tract and with special regard to reproduction

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released from almost all cells and tissues. They are able to transport substances (e.g. proteins, RNA or DNA) at higher concentrations than in their environment and may adhere in a receptor-controlled manner to specific cells or tissues in order to release their content into the respective target structure. Blood contains high concentrations of EVs mainly derived from platelets, and, at a smaller amount, from erythrocytes. The female and male reproductive tracts produce EVs which may be associated with fertility or infertility and are released into body fluids and mucosas of the urogenital organs. In this review, the currently relevant detection methods are presented and critically compared. During pregnancy, placenta-derived EVs are dynamically detectable in peripheral blood with changing profiles depending upon progress of pregnancy and different pregnancy-associated pathologies, such as preeclampsia. EVs offer novel non-invasive diagnostic tools which may reflect the situation of the placenta and the foetus. EVs in urine have the potential of reflecting urogenital diseases including cancers of the neighbouring organs. Several methods for detection, quantification and phenotyping of EVs have been established, which include electron microscopy, flow cytometry, ELISA-like methods, Western blotting and analyses based on Brownian motion. This review article summarises the current knowledge about EVs in blood and cord blood, in the different compartments of the male and female reproductive tracts, in trophoblast cells from normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies, in placenta ex vivo perfusate, in the amniotic fluid, and in breast milk, as well as their potential effects on natural killer cells as possible targets.

Telocytes and Their Extracellular Vesicles-Evidence and Hypotheses

Entering the new millennium, nobody believed that there was the possibility of discovering a new cellular type. Nevertheless, telocytes (TCs) were described as a novel kind of interstitial cell. Ubiquitously distributed in the extracellular matrix of any tissue, TCs are regarded as cells with telopodes involved in intercellular communication by direct homo- and heterocellular junctions or by extracellular vesicle (EVs) release. Their discovery has aroused the interest of many research groups worldwide, and many researchers regard them as potentially regenerative cells. Given the experience of our laboratory, where these cells were first described, we review the evidence supporting the fact that TCs release EVs, and discuss alternative hypotheses about their future implications.

Therapeutic and diagnostic applications of extracellular vesicles

During the past two decades, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been identified as important mediators of intercellular communication, enabling the functional transfer of bioactive molecules from one cell to another. Consequently, it is becoming increasingly clear that these vesicles are involved in many (patho)physiological processes, providing opportunities for therapeutic applications. Moreover, it is known that the molecular composition of EVs reflects the physiological status of the producing cell and tissue, rationalizing their exploitation as biomarkers in various diseases. In this review the composition, biogenesis and diversity of EVs is discussed in a therapeutic and diagnostic context. We describe emerging therapeutic applications, including the use of EVs as drug delivery vehicles and as cell-free vaccines, and reflect on future challenges for clinical translation. Finally, we discuss the use of EVs as a biomarker source and highlight recent studies and clinical successes.

Microfluidic Exosome Analysis toward Liquid Biopsy for Cancer

Assessment of a tumor's molecular makeup using biofluid samples, known as liquid biopsy, is a prominent research topic in precision medicine for cancer, due to its noninvasive property allowing repeat sampling for monitoring molecular changes of tumors over time. Circulating exosomes recently have been recognized as promising tumor surrogates because they deliver enriched biomarkers, such as proteins, RNAs, and DNA. However, purification and characterization of these exosomes are technically challenging. Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technology effectively addresses these challenges owing to its inherent advantages in integration and automation of multiple functional modules, enhancing sensing performance, and expediting analysis processes. In this article, we review the state-of-the-art development of microfluidic technologies for exosome isolation and molecular characterization with emphasis on their applications toward liquid biopsy-based analysis of cancer. Finally, we share our perspectives on current challenges and future directions of microfluidic exosome analysis.

Stem Cell Banking and Its Impact on Cardiac Regenerative Medicine

Cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, are the most frequent cause of death annually, even higher than any other pathologies. Specifically, patients who suffer from myocardial infarction may encounter adverse remodeling processes of the heart that can ultimately lead to heart failure. Prognosis of patients affected by heart failure is very poor with 5-year mortality close to 50 %. Despite the impressive progress in the clinical treatment of heart failure in recent years, heart transplantation is still required to avoid death as the result of the inexorable decline in cardiac function. Unfortunately, the availability of donor human hearts for transplantation largely fails to cover the number of potential recipient requests. From this urgent unmet clinical need the interest in stem cell applications for heart regeneration made its start, and has rapidly grown in the last decades. Indeed, the discovery and application of stem and progenitor cells as therapeutic agents has raised substantial interest with the objective of reversing these processes, and ultimately inducing cardiac regeneration. In this scenario, the role of biobanking may play a remarkable role to provide cells at the right time according to the patient's clinical needs, mostly for autologous use in the acute setting of myocardial infarction, largely reducing the time needed for cell preparation and expansion before administration.