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Isolation, Characterization, and Therapeutic Application of Extracellular Vesicles from Cultured Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
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Isolation, Characterization, and Therapeutic Application of Extracellular Vesicles from Cultured Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

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Targeting Strategies of Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

Jiaming Fan1, Liyun Yao1, Jiayi Yao1

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital& Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, No. 899, Pinghai Road, Suzhou, 215006, China.

Stem Cell Reviews and Reports
|November 6, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) show promise for cardiovascular disease (CVD) treatment. Strategies are emerging to improve EV retention and heart-specific delivery, overcoming limitations of current therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of global mortality, with limited regenerative capacity of heart tissue.
  • Current treatments like drugs, surgery, and heart transplantation have significant limitations, including donor scarcity and risks.
  • Stem cell therapy offers potential but suffers from poor cell retention, while extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from stem cells face challenges like short half-life and non-specific uptake.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of extracellular vesicles (EVs) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) treatment.
  • To examine advanced strategies aimed at enhancing EV retention and targeted delivery to the heart.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential and future directions of EV-based therapies for CVD.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on extracellular vesicle (EV) biology and application in cardiovascular disease.
  • Analysis of strategies to improve EV therapeutic efficacy, including hydrogel incorporation, membrane modification, fusion techniques, and immune system modulation.
  • Discussion of methods to overcome challenges such as short plasma half-life and non-specific organ uptake.

Main Results:

  • Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are key mediators of stem cell paracrine effects and hold therapeutic potential for cardiovascular diseases.
  • Various strategies are being developed to enhance EV stability, prolong circulation time, and improve targeting to cardiac tissue.
  • Techniques like hydrogel encapsulation and modification of EV surface properties show promise in reducing clearance by the reticuloendothelial system.

Conclusions:

  • Extracellular vesicle (EV) therapy presents a promising avenue for treating cardiovascular diseases by potentially regenerating heart tissue.
  • Overcoming challenges related to EV stability, biodistribution, and targeted delivery is crucial for clinical translation.
  • Continued research into EV engineering and delivery systems will be vital for realizing their full therapeutic potential in cardiology.

Keywords:
Cardiovascular diseasesExtracellular vesiclesTarget

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