Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes: A Comprehensive Review of Biomedical Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Stem cell-derived exosomes (SC-Exos) present a novel therapeutic modality overcoming limitations of direct stem cell transplantation.
• Advantages include reduced immunogenicity, tumorigenicity, and ethical concerns compared to cell therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review SC-Exos research, covering mechanisms, engineering, and therapeutic applications.
• To evaluate the clinical translation status and identify future research priorities.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of SC-Exos research.
• Analysis of isolation, characterization, engineering strategies, and therapeutic applications.
• Evaluation of clinical trial data and identification of challenges.

Main Results:

• SC-Exos demonstrate broad therapeutic potential across cardiovascular, neurological, oncological, and other diseases.
• Current clinical trials show favorable safety and promising efficacy.
• Challenges include standardization, quality control, scalability, and biosafety.

Conclusions:

• SC-Exos hold significant therapeutic promise, but standardization and further research are crucial for clinical translation.
• Establishing unified standards and conducting large-scale trials are key priorities.