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Author Spotlight: Advancing the Analysis of Plasma Extracellular Vesicle Proteome for Cardiovascular Biomarker Studies
Published on: January 31, 2025
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Extracellular Vesicles in Cardiovascular Diseases: Signaling, Biomarker, and Therapy
Wenxi Chen1,2, Xinyi Zhu1,2, Shuo Yu3
1Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices; Heart Regeneration and Repair Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Transvascular Implantation Devices Research Institute, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research
|October 11, 2025
Summary
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) show promise for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). These natural nanoparticles can be engineered for targeted drug delivery and improved CVD management.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Research
- Nanomedicine
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death worldwide, driving the need for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and microvesicles, are crucial intercellular communicators in the cardiovascular system, carrying miRNAs and proteins that regulate key pathological processes.
- EVs offer non-invasive diagnostic potential due to their accessibility and disease-specific molecular profiles, and serve as ideal drug delivery vehicles owing to their endogenous nature and targeting capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as diagnostic tools and therapeutic drug delivery platforms for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
- To discuss the engineering of EVs for enhanced specificity in therapeutic applications and the challenges hindering their clinical translation.
- To highlight the promise of EV-based interventions for conditions like myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, and heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of current research on extracellular vesicle (EV) biology and function in cardiovascular contexts.
- Analysis of the diagnostic potential derived from the molecular signatures of EVs.
- Evaluation of engineered EVs as drug carriers, considering surface modification and cargo loading for targeted delivery.
Main Results:
- EVs regulate critical cardiovascular processes including inflammation, fibrogenesis, and angiogenesis.
- Engineered EVs demonstrate enhanced specificity for therapeutic applications in cardiovascular disease models.
- Significant challenges remain, including issues with reproducibility, long-term safety, clearance, and scalable manufacturing.
Conclusions:
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent a promising frontier for both diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
- Engineering EVs offers a pathway to develop targeted drug delivery systems with potential applications in myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, and heart failure.
- Overcoming current challenges in standardization and safety is crucial for the clinical translation of EV-based diagnostics and regenerative therapies for CVDs.
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