Surface functionalization strategies of extracellular vesicles.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Cell Biology
• Nanomedicine

Background:

• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-secreted vesicles involved in intercellular communication.
• EVs possess rich molecular cargo, making them promising for biomedical applications like drug delivery and diagnostics.
• Functionalizing EVs enhances their specificity and utility in various biomedical fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and classify existing surface functionalization strategies for extracellular vesicles (EVs).
• To compare the advantages and limitations of different EV functionalization approaches.
• To highlight the potential of optimized functionalization for advancing EV-based therapies and diagnostics.

Main Methods:

• Categorization of EV surface functionalization into physical, biological, and chemical approaches.
• Discussion of specific techniques within each category, including sonication, genetic engineering, and click chemistry (e.g., thiol-maleimide, azide-alkyne).
• Comparative analysis of the presented functionalization strategies.

Main Results:

• Identified three primary strategies for EV surface functionalization: physical, biological, and chemical.
• Detailed various methods within each strategy, such as membrane rearrangement, cell engineering, and covalent conjugation.
• Emphasized the potential for combining approaches to overcome limitations and improve EV functionality.

Conclusions:

• Surface functionalization is crucial for expanding the biomedical applications of EVs.
• Physical, biological, and chemical methods offer distinct advantages for modifying EV surfaces.
• Optimized and potentially combined functionalization strategies can enhance EV integrity and efficacy for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.