A Biomimetic Mineralization Strategy for the Long-Term Preservation of Exosomes Through Non-Destructive Encapsulation...

Exosomes, which are extracellular vesicles derived from endosomes, play a crucial role in mediating intercellular communication and are widely used in medical diagnostics and drug delivery. Conventional cryopreservation strategies can damage the integrity of exosomes, hindering their further application in the biomedical field. Here, a novel approach is developed for exosome storage, shell of intact exosomes holding (SHIELD), which packages exosomes in zeolite imidazolate frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) as a protective shell. ZIF-8 shell can be quickly removed, and meanwhile, the inherent morphology and biological function of exosomes can be preserved, thereby mitigating potential biocompatible risks associated with ZIF-8. Notably, the SHIELD-protected exosomes maintained their intact morphology and cellular uptake capacity, and 76% of the original protein content can be kept even after being stored for one month. Overall, the development of SHIELD overcomes the challenges of traditional techniques of exosome preservation and further broadens the biomedical applications of ZIF-8 and exosomes.