Methodologies to Isolate and Purify Clinical Grade Extracellular Vesicles for Medical Applications

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanomedicine
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly recognized for their potential in nano drug delivery.
• Existing research highlights diverse EV sources, including plant, salivary, and urinary origins, which are readily available.
• Despite broad applications, challenges remain in standardizing EV isolation and purification for clinical translation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in nano drug delivery.
• To discuss various sources of EVs, emphasizing accessible yet underutilized options.
• To highlight the critical need for standardized isolation and purification methods for clinical advancement.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of extracellular vesicle applications in drug delivery.
• Analysis of different extracellular vesicle sources (plant, salivary, urinary, blood, tissue).
• Discussion on the impact of standardization on clinical translation and safety.

Main Results:

• Extracellular vesicles offer a wide range of applications in nanomedicine.
• Plant, salivary, and urinary sources provide accessible alternatives to blood and tissue-derived EVs.
• Lack of standardized isolation protocols hinders clinical adoption and understanding of EV mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• Standardization of extracellular vesicle isolation and purification is essential for realizing their full clinical potential.
• Standardized methods will improve safety, enable mechanistic studies, and facilitate clinical trials.
• Addressing standardization will accelerate the translation of EV-based therapeutics.