Vascularized platforms for investigating cell communication via extracellular vesicles

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• The vascular network is crucial for organ maintenance, nutrient delivery, and intercellular communication.
• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are vital mediators of intercellular signaling and drug delivery.
• Physiologically relevant engineered vascular systems are needed to study microenvironmental interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in vascularized platforms for studying extracellular vesicle (EV) interactions.
• To summarize techniques for EV isolation and characterization within these platforms.
• To provide insights into EV-mediated (patho)physiological processes and therapeutic development.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on engineered vascular platforms.
• Analysis of standard and microfluidic techniques for EV isolation and characterization.
• Examination of studies utilizing EVs within vascularized platforms.

Main Results:

• Vascularized platforms offer ideal systems for investigating blood vessel-EV interactions.
• Standard and microfluidic methods enable robust EV isolation and characterization.
• Studies highlight the role of EVs in physiological and pathological conditions.

Conclusions:

• Engineered vascular platforms are essential for understanding EV functions in vivo.
• Advances in EV isolation and characterization facilitate therapeutic development.
• This review consolidates knowledge for future research in EV-based therapeutics and vascular biology.